Non-availability of record creates hurdles in gearing up exercise
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 24: Though compliance to the High Court directions has finally started yielding tangible results vis-à-vis demarcation of land transferred to Jammu Development Authority from time to time yet the non-availability of proper revenue record in respect of huge chunk of land is creating hurdles in gearing up the exercise to meet the schedule fixed in this regard. Moreover, the Revenue Department has yet not provided record of 1681 kanals of land demarcated by JDA during the past three months.
All this has substantiated the report of EXCELSIOR dated May 17, 2017 whereby it was exclusively highlighted that illegal entries and non-availability of revenue records would create impediments in demarcation of JDA land even after numerous directions from the High Court.
On May 23, 2017, the Division Bench of the State High Court, in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), had directed the Revenue authorities of Jammu and Samba districts as well as Jammu Development Authority to prepare action plan for demarcation of land in a time bound manner. They were also directed to identify specific teams for carrying out this vital but much delayed exercise.
In compliance to these directions, a joint demarcation schedule was prepared by Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Samba and JDA and the same was shared with the SSPs of both the districts for providing police protection at the sites of demarcation. Accordingly, an extensive exercise of demarcation of JDA land was undertaken in both the districts with effect from May 2017.
“The JDA has taken over possession of 471 kanals and five marlas of land in Samba district and 910 kanals and 13 marlas in Jammu. Moreover, the JDA has removed encroachments from approximately 300 kanals of land in Majeen, Sidhra and Nagrota areas”, official sources told EXCELSIOR, adding “this huge chunk of land is being fenced by JDA simultaneously to prevent the future encroachments”.
However, the Revenue Department has not provided the revenue records of the demarcated land to JDA till date, sources informed, adding “the whole exercise of demarcation/fencing would be futile in the absence of proper revenue records”.
According to the sources, the issue of demarcation has been taken up vigorously by the JDA with the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Samba yet the progress achieved so far remained very low. “This is mainly because of non-availability of proper revenue record (Aks Masavi/Latha) of large number of villages/locations and non-availability of revenue staff as per the schedule”, they further said while disclosing that progress of demarcation achieved so far is far behind the schedule.
EXCELSIOR had on May 17, 2017 reported that huge chunk of land was already under encroachment at the time when it was transferred to JDA on papers as Revenue Department had not prepared record of the encroached land. Moreover, it was brought to the public domain that a proper procedure—preparation of Tatima Shajra and incorporation of possession of land in favour of JDA in the record for demarcation/handing over of the land was rarely followed by the Revenue Department.
In reply to a question, sources said that cost of the land demarcated/retrieved so far in compliance to the directions of the High Court has been worked out at Rs 500 crore. “In this way, the indulgence of the High Court has started yielding results”, they added.
“In order to accomplish the task within time bound manner, the number of operations are required to be taken up simultaneously in different locations in both the districts for demarcation and fencing of land and removal of encroachment and for all this sufficient police assistance is required”, sources said while disclosing that a request is being made to the High Court for issuance of directions for placement of required number of police personnel at the disposal of JDA till the completion of assignment.
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