12 structures demolished in anti-encroachment drive

Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Apr 3: District Administration, Rajouri conducted an anti-encroachment drive in Kotranka town to retrieve prime Govt land for widening of road and decongestion of rotaries for better traffic movement and convenience of the general public.
An official spokesman said that the drive was conducted by Additional  DC Kotranka Shafiq Ahmed along with Tehsildar Mohd Rafiq Choudhary, SHO Kotranka with police assistance under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri.
It was 4th major operation by the authorities in last three months aimed at widening of roads and de-congestion of traffic as well as safeguarding prime Government property.
The drive lasted for about four hours and minor resistance faced by the team was tackled amicably. A total number of 12 structures were demolished during the drive. These included three shops fully,  six shops partially, two  Government buildings and one other structure dismantled. Land valuing Rs 3-4 cr was retrieved during the operation.
Meanwhile, a number of notices have been issued at several other places and process has been started for identification of land required to be retrieved for development of public amenities.
District Administration has already initiated a number of developmental works for re-development of towns by retrieving the land required for such developmental projects.
Pertinent to mention here that people in Rajouri have unanimously extended support to the re-development plan and voluntarily offered to vacate the spaces  so required. The administration has also appealed people in Kotranka and Sunderbani for similar cooperation for better public services and infrastructure.