Eviction Drive : Big encroachers identified across J&K for anti-encroachment drive

Eviction Drive : Big encroachers identified across J&K for anti-encroachment drive

Government has prepared a list of big encroachers who will be targeted during the anti-encroachment drive launched across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the farmers, landless people and small commercial establishments will be spared and clear instructions in this regard have been issued at all the levels in the administration.

Notwithstanding the hue and cry raised by the opposition, the Government has reiterated that only big encroachers will be targeted in both the provinces of the UT and their list has already been prepared by the Revenue Department.

“Only chronic encroachers including hoteliers will be removed across the Union Territory”, sources told KIF, adding “in order to ensure that the decision of removal of encroachments is implemented in totality the time-frame will be extended beyond January 31, 2023”.

The focus will be more on those hotels and resorts particularly in Kashmir valley whose lease has already expired and has not been renewed by the Government and beyond lease land they are in illegal possession of hundreds of kanals of land. Among the major lease violators in Kashmir valley are Hotel Khyber, Hotel Nedous, Hotel Pine Palace/Platinum, Hotel Grand Mumtaz, Hotel Hilltop and Hotel Royal Castle.

As per the details, in respect of Khyber Hotel lease was granted in favour of Amarjeet Singh and Parapjeet Singh but the same has been sub-leased to Pinnacle Resorts Pvt Ltd and records in the Revenue Department and Housing and Urban Development Department are being cross-checked. Apart from lease land, excess land of 9 kanals and 6 marlas has been occupied by the Kyber Hotel.

Similarly, in respect of Nedous Hotel lease was granted in favour of Ghulam Qadir and the present possessor is Umar Khaleel, son of Sheikh Ghulam Qadir despite the fact that lease stands expired. In this case, excess land of 100 kanals and 13 marlas has been occupied by Nedous Hotel and 17 structures including huts and staff quarters have been built on the same.

The Deputy Commissioners were further directed to constitute teams of Revenue officers for removal of the encroachments and personally monitor the drive and both the Divisional Commissioners were asked to monitor the same on regular basis.

Moreover, they (DCs) were explicitly told to ensure that only big encroachers and violators are targeted and farmers, landless people, small commercial establishments and those having small houses are not targeted at all.

However, opposition parties blew the issue out of proportion and started raising voice over the decision of the Government although similar anti-encroachment drives were launched by the previous Governments too.

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