Excelsior Correspondent
![People protesting against encroachment of land at Gole Gujral on Monday.—Excelsior /Rakesh](http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/page3-45-300x168.jpg)
JAMMU, Dec 9: Residents of Gole Gujral & adjoining areas staged a dharna in protest against encroachment on JDA land at Gole Gujral and disrupted the vehicular traffic on camp road for over one hour in the morning.
A large number of people from Gole Gujral, Ranjitpur, Aman Vihar, Om Nagar, Ajit Colony, Himmat Colony & other adjoining areas participated in the dharna at Gobind Nagar Chowk. Protestors demanded immediate removal of encroachments from the JDA land on which EWS Colony was to be constructed.
Raising slogans against the Revenue authorities and JDA authorities, the protestors gave 15 days ultimatum to the Government failing which they will intensify the agitation.
The protestors said that about 300 kanals of JDA land, identified for colony for poor and weak people of the society (EWS), has been encroached upon by land grabbers. Despite the fact that concerned authorities like Vice-Chairman JDA, DC & Divisional. Commissioner, Jammu have been appraised about the encroachment from time to time, right from 2004, but it is surprising & beyond understanding as to why the authorities concerned are sleeping over this serious issue and have given encroachers a free hand to construct kullas, which now are fast turning into pacca and permanent structures.
They said occupant of this illegal colony, instead of confining their animal to their enclosures, let them move freely into streets, roads and fields of locals, thus spreading dirt & dung everywhere in Municipal area besides damaging the crops of local people.
Addressing the protestors, Sarpanch Gole Gujral urged the Government to restore the land immediately as the encroachers are also indulging on bovine smuggling and often attack police when it tries to foil their attempt.
Balvinder Singh Social activist and convener Sangarsh RTI Movement while addressing the gathering said that it is really shame on the part of JDA who failed to protect its property from the illegal encroachers and instead making all out efforts to legalize them for pleasing those sitting at the helm of affairs. He further said it is very sad on the part of JDA that the land which was meant for the establishment of colony for weaker sections of the society and for which the peoples have already deposited money for the allotment of the plots is being legalized on the name of illegal encroachers by JDA.
Those who addressed Chaman Lal (Ex-Corporator), Sushil Kumar, S. Santokh Singh andS. Inderpal Singh (Sarpanch, Gol Gujral).