Land values Rs 20 crore
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Dec 18: The district administration, Kathua today removed encroachment from a pond next to Government Degree College Kathua braving protest by former Minister Jitender Singh alias Babu Singh who claimed that the piece of land belonged to him.
However the district administration with the assistance of police restored the pond by removing encroachment.
The encroacher had even managed a mutation on basis of forged documents. However Tehsildar, Kathua has submitted a detailed report after conducting an enquiry, on basis of which Collector set aside the mutation attested in the name of Jatinder Singh, Ex Minister,
The value of land is approximately 20 crore. There was no possession of Jatinder Singh( Babu Singh) on the spot.
The action has been taken after the general public made many representations in this regard and filed a complaint with the District Development Commissioner, Kathua Rohit Khajuria.
This pond even today has a catchment area from the Kashmir canal from the right side of College, which was blocked by the encroacher.
Public has welcomed the action of the administration, which has paved the way for restoration of this important water pond in Kathua town. Now all the three water ponds on College road have been freed from encroachments. The historic Kali Bari Pond is under restoration at the cost of Rs 1.6 crore under the CSR. The pond opposite to District Police Office has been restored through Forest Department.
It may be recalled that DC Kathua, Rohit Khajuria has taken drastic steps in removing all encroachments from State land in the district.
An official spokesman said that as per Land Revenue Act and Water Bodies Act no body can encroach or change the nature of water bodies. In such cases Supreme Court and State High Court has already given clear directions that no encroachment be spared. Recently in such cases pertaining to district Kathua, State High Court has desired that water bodies be made free from encroachment.
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