Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 21: A pathway constructed by the Rural Development Department (RDD) in Rawatpora Ajas in district Bandipora, has remained encroached upon for years, leaving several households without proper connectivity.
A delegation of locals from New Colony Rawatpora told Excelsior about the issue, stating they have been grappling with the problem for several years.
The locals noted that the pathway, approximately 300 feet long and constructed at a cost of Rs 1.30 lakh in 2018, remained encroached for nearly three years before it was finally cleared. However, they alleged that it has since been repeatedly blocked.
Despite officials labelling the encroachment as “illegal” and urging the authorities to act, the issue persists, they said.
“Even the court recently directed maintaining the status quo on the matter after an application for a permanent injunction and interim relief was filed,” they said.
One affected local, Fayaz Ahmad Rather, expressed frustration, saying the authorities have repeatedly failed to keep the pathway clear. “The cycle of restoring it and it being encroached upon again continues,” he said.
According to a letter written by the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Hajin in October this year, a man identified as Manzoor Ahmad Rather was named as the individual responsible for the encroachment. The letter urged the concerned Tehsildar to take action.
The communication also highlighted that the same individual, who worked as a vendor during the path’s construction, had not raised any objections at the time.
“However, he later blocked the path, causing inconvenience to the general public. It is now requested to remove the encroachment as per the directions of the Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora,” the letter stated.
The aggrieved locals said the Tehsildar recently restored the pathway, only for it to be encroached upon again, allegedly with the support of the Revenue Department.
Citing a 2019 letter from the Tehsildar Ajas to the BDO, they described an ongoing cycle of restoration and encroachment. The letter noted that the restored pathway had been blocked again.
A subsequent letter in 2022 from the then Deputy Commissioner also directed the Tehsildar to remove the illegal encroachment without any further delay.
Recently, after the path was once again restored by the Tehsildar, the locals approached a court in Bandipora to ensure that the matter is resolved.
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