Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, July 16: Unbeli-evable but it is true that the highly connected land-mafia has stalled all efforts of the premier investigating agency of the country – Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to construct a residential colony in Channi Rama, which would have helped the agency to increase its field strength in border State.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR, “CBI had purchased 9 kanals of land under khasra number 326 at Channi Rama from Jammu Development Authority (JDA) in 2006. After completion of all the formalities, lease dead between the JDA and CBI was executed on August 16, 2011 and it was registered in the Court of Sub-Registrar, Jammu on October 12, 2011. CBI had paid an amount of Rs 2 crores to JDA for the land”.
Subsequently, JDA told its officials vide letter no. JDA/LS/2981-85 dated 21.10.2011 to formally handover the possession of the land measuring 9 kanals to CBI. “However, when boundary wall and construction work was started on site by the team of Central Public Works Department (CPWD), some goons stopped the entire work and claimed that there was stay on the land”.
“Ironically, none of the officials of JDA brought to the notice of the CBI that there was any such issue in the said land despite several interactions between the two agencies. While JDA officials claimed that the status was clear, things were different on ground”, said a top official of CBI adding, “if this is the fate of CBI colony, what would happen to common people”.
“The issue was also taken up with Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, who earlier held the portfolio of Housing and Urban Development, but there was no progress on the subject”, sources said adding, “people who claimed rights over this land had also threatened some officials of the JDA some time back”.
Regretting the state of affairs, source in CBI said, “non-availability of housing facilities for our field staff has seriously hampered our efforts to strengthen our base in Jammu and Kashmir. This is a major setback to anti-corruption measures in the State and despite several efforts nothing has changed for the past two years”.
“Union Government headquarter had released funds to the tune of Rs 4 crores for the prestigious project after finalization of the deal with JDA. But, due to non-availability of land, we have been compelled to surrender this amount”, he said adding, “most of our officials are living in rented accommodation and face lot of hardships”.
Deploring the state of affairs, sources said, “we have been made to suffer despite paying the final payment to JDA and completing all the required legal formalities”.
Vice Chairman, JDA, Satish Nehru when contacted said, “we have been vehemently pursing the case at all levels and all efforts are being made to resolve the issue. We are also looking at option of providing some alternate land to investigating agency”.
Sources in JDA said, “the dispute has been intentionally created by some habitual encroachers. They have been making all possible efforts to stall the residential building project”.
“They have even moved now application under the garb of Roshni Scheme that the rights of said land be provided to them”, sources confirmed.
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