Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 28: The Lakhanpur-Sarthal Development Authority has yet not been given the land required for the construction of Travellers Mart although decision in this regard was taken in a meeting held more than one year back.
This was admitted by the Minister for Planning, Labour and Employment, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra in reply to the Calling Attention Notice of MLA Kathua, Charanjit Singh.
For the construction of Travellers Mart at Lakhanpur, which is part of Lakhanpur-Bani-Basholi-Sarthal Circuit, 213 kanals of land has been identified. It comprises 98 kanals and 2 marlas belonging to Punjab Government (Irrigation Department), 69 Kanals and 15 marlas of State land and 45 Kanals and 3 Marlas of private land, the Minister said.
Regarding transfer of land measuring 98 kanals and 2 marlas, the Minister said that matter was under correspondence with the Punjab Government. He said that the State land measuring 69 kanals and 15 marlas was transferred to the Tourism Department vide Government Order NO. Rev(S)/390 of 2007 dated 22.11.2007 and final award in respect of private land measuring 45 kanals and 3 marlas was issued by the then Collector, Land Acquisition (Addl Deputy Commissioner, Kathua) vide No. DCK/ADCK/LA/2008-2009/396-400 dated 10.01.2009.
“In order to discuss the issues regarding construction of Travelers Mart at Lakhanpur, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of the then Minister for Tourism and Culture on 20th April, 2012 and it was decided that Deputy Commissioner Kathua will ensure handing over the physical possession of the State as well as the proprietary land acquired by the Department”, the Minister said.
“The Chief Executive Officer, Lakhanpur Sarthal Development Authority is also coordinating with the district administration to take possession of the land with proper demarcation on the ground”, the Minister said and said that Directorate of Tourism has taken the physical possession of approximately 85 kanals of land out of 114 kanals and 18 marlas and about 30 kanals of land are still under encroachment for which the efforts are afoot to get it vacated with the help of the district administration.
“To take the physical possession of 114 kanals and 18 marlas, there is an imminent requirement of fencing. As soon as funds become available, the entire parcel of land will be fenced to prevent encroachment”, he further said, adding the district administration has assured that magisterial support and police assistance will be provided as and when required.
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