Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 24: Minister of State for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, called upon the revenue authorities to explore better options for optimum use of evacuee land available in Jammu.
The Minister said this during his tour to Bhalwal and Udhaywala area of Jammu today.
The Minister was accompanied by Custodian General, A. M. Mir, Custodian Jammu, A. M. Wani, ACR, Sher Singh and other senior officers of the departments.
At Bhalwal, the Minister took stock of progress on retrieval of 220 kanal and 9 marla custodian land and instructed the officers to start drive for removing illegal encroachments on the land so that it could be utilized for commercial or domestic purposes.
The Minister directed the revenue authorities to keep check on unauthorized colonies and expedite the process of construction of the colonies which have completed all legal formalities under the master-plan. He also directed them to check the conversion of agriculture land for non-agriculture use. He stressed upon the officers concerned to ensure that agricultural land would not be used for other purpose under law as agriculture sector is the backbone of the economy.
He asked the officers to remain in their respective offices to complete the pending works for the convenience of public which were hampered due to long agitation of revenue officials.
Later, the Minister inspected the pace of progress on construction work of Community Hall at Udhayala being constructed by Custodian Department at an estimated cost of Rs. 7.5 crore. He asked the executing agency to gear up their men and machinery to accelerate the tempo of work so that the project is completed in a year’s period.