*Axe likely to fall on many Revenue Deptt officers
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 19: With several parts of Budgam district in Kashmir valley becoming breeding ground for the high-profile encroachers including politicians and bureaucrats, the Government has ordered an enquiry into encroachment of Kahcharie/State land and sought a detailed report within a period of one month for initiating necessary action. Following completion of probe, axe will also fall on several officers of the Revenue Department, who either acted as mute spectator to the blatant violation of the Revenue Laws or facilitated the encroachments.
The issue of wide-spread encroachment on Kahcharie/State land in prime locations of the Budgam district particularly in Humhama and Soiteng areas near Srinagar International Airport rocked the State Legislative Assembly during the Budget Session convened in the recent past following which the Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Basharat Ahmed Bukhari had to make a statement on the floor of the House that Government will conduct in-depth enquiry into these encroachments.
He had even assured the House that encroachers would be identified irrespective of political affiliations before initiating necessary action not only against the encroachers but also against those officers of the Revenue Department, who during their postings in the Budgam district facilitated illegal activities by succumbing to the pressure from different quarters.
Now, the Revenue Minister has translated his promise into reality by ordering an enquiry into encroachments on Kahcharie/State land at Soiteng and Humhama areas of Budgam district. Both these areas, which are situated near the Srinagar International Airport, are considered as most prime locations of the Budgam district and many politicians from different political parties and former and serving senior bureaucrats have allegedly constructed their houses on Kahcharie/State land.
The enquiry has been entrusted to a committee headed by R K Shavan, Regional Director, Survey and Land Records, Jammu, who has already unraveled many land scams in Jammu, and Naseer Ahmad Wani, Assistant Commissioner, Revenue Budgam as its member.
According to the Government Order No.105-Rev(S) of 2016, the copy of which is in possession of EXCELSIOR, the committee will carry out demarcation of the State/Kancharie land in these areas of Budgam district and identify the encroachers along with the details of the land encroached upon by them.
“The committee will also ascertain the position of records, entries made vis-à-vis these encroachments and identify the officers and officials of the Revenue Department, who had facilitated the encroachments”, the order further said, adding “the committee will also identify the persons in whose favour Kahcharie land was given in exchange of the Revenue Estates along with the quantum of land, survey number, particulars of the officers and officials having facilitated the exchange in blatant violation of Land Laws including Land Revenue/Agrarian Reforms Acts etc”.
Besides recommending corrective measures, the committee has also been asked to suggest action required to be taken against the erring officers and officials of the Revenue Department. Moreover, the committee has been directed to submit its report within a period of one month.
Disclosing that committee has already started the enquiry, sources said, “the concerned officers and officials have been asked to submit land related details to the committee within shortest possible time so as to facilitate it in completion of enquiry in a time bound manner”.
It is pertinent to mention here that on the directions of the State High Court the Revenue Department in the month of June this year had served notice to a former Minister in a case related to alleged encroachment of Kahcharie land in Humhama area.
“Initiating action against the encroachers and taking corrective measures would be a litmus test for the Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation as high-profile politicians and bureaucrats are reportedly among the encroachers of Kahcharie/State land in these areas of Budgam district”, sources said, adding “the fate of this enquiry will bring to the fore the intention of the present dispensation to check encroachments on the State and Kahcharie land, which otherwise has assumed alarming proportion in the length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir”.
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