Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 30: Minister for Urban Development, Nawang Rigjin Jora today admitted on the floor of the Legislative Assembly slow progress in eviction of encroachment from the land identified for the construction of Travelers Mart at Lakhanpur.
Responding to the question of Jagdish Raj Sapolia, Mr Jora on behalf of the Minister In-charge Tourism said that a total of 114 kanal and 18 marla of land (69 kanal and 15 marla State land and 45 kanal and 3 marla private land) has been acquired for construction of Travelers Mart at Lakhanpur. In addition, 98 kanal and 2 marla of Punjab Irrigation Department land has been proposed to be acquired for which the matter was under correspondence with Punjab Government.
“Out of total land acquired so far 85 kanal has been physically taken over from the district authorities and construction of Travelers Mart has been started”, the Minister said, adding “about 30 kanal of private land is still under the encroachment and efforts are on for eviction”.
In order to expedite eviction of encroachers, Chief Executive Officer, Lakhanpur Sarthal Development Authority has been nominated as Nodal Officer to coordinate with the District Administration for taking over possession of the land from encroachers, Mr Jora said.
However, Mr Sapolia expressed concern over the inordinate delay in eviction of encroachment. “All the MLAs of the Kathua had walked-out of the District Development Board meeting last year over the issue but still we are being told that efforts are being made for taking over possession of land from encroachers”, he said.
Stating that Nodal Officer was not performing his duty satisfactorily, Mr Sapolia said, “the Minister should specify the time-frame within which the encroachment will be removed”.
Admitting slow progress in eviction of encroachment, Mr Jora said, “it is a fact that Nodal Officer has failed to come out with desirable results”, adding “we will look into this aspect also”.
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