CONNIVANCE OF ‘OFFICIALS’ SURFACES
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: State Vigilance Commission (SVC) on Thursday directed Jammu Development Authority (JDA) to immediately remove encroachments and submit Action Taken Report (ATR) to it over grabbing of state land in Sidhra area by some brokers and land mafia allegedly in connivance with “certain JDA officials”.
STATE TIMES in its edition dated July 18, 2016 had exclusively reported that after encroachment of over 5,700 Kanals of JDA land under the pretext of setting up of the so-called Sidhra Satellite Township in Jammu outskirts, chronic land grabbers had unleashed illegal sale of another over 10,000 Kanals to private parties. In almost a free for all scenario, land-grabbers seem to have taken centre-stage in disposing off duly demarcated JDA land to private persons in connivance with officials.
SVC took serious note of encroachments on State Land measuring nearly 81 acre at Sidhra Jammu by some brokers and land mafia groups, allegedly with active support and succour of certain officials of JDA, an SVC officer said.
The SVC has directed Vice Chairman of JDA Mubarak Singh to take all necessary measures and ensure that encroachments are removed early and submit Action Taken Report to the Commission, the officer said.
The Commission has also asked Commissioner Housing and Urban Development Department, Hirdesh Kumar to formulate a workable action plan for removal of the illegal encroachments and checking further encroachment on State land and submit detailed report to the Commission before next date of hearing, he said.
Taking cognizance of a complaint lodged by the inhabitants of Majeen Sidhra, Tehsil Jammu about large scale encroachments on state land at Sidhra in Jammu allegedly by a land mafia group and brokers in connivance and conspiracy of some officials of JDA, the SVC had sought a report from the authorities of JDA.
The report obtained prima facie discloses that State land bearing khasra Nos. 11,12,14,117,119,15 was
