JDA goes into Sleeping Mode over its Land Encroachment

Multi-crore Land Scam Flourishes Under the Nose of JDA at Paloura

Revenue Authorities Show Action; JDA Connives with Land Grabbers to Sell Over 150 Kanals of Prime Land at Paloura, elsewhere

• JDA remains inactive despite the nullification of a fraudulent mutation by the DM (Khasra No 985, measuring 8 Kanals) under order No DCJ/Rdr/2022-23/47 dated 07/01/2023.
•  Prime land near Soap Factory Paloura and Lohan Park sold by the land mafia with the connivance of JDA officials.
•  JDA Khilaf Warzi Wing and Engineering Wing show intentional negligence, allowing unauthorized encroachments.
•  Sources say 100 Kanals of JDA land already sold, while another 50 Kanals faces continuous encroachment.
•  Scandal extends beyond Paloura, with JDA unlawfully handing over prized land to encroachers
•  Sources say Patwari (Paloura) Darshan Kumar being pressured for fraudulent Fards; Resists, vows not to repeat past mistakes of revenue officials

Mohit Mehra

Jammu, January 18: In a shocking revelation, the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has been caught in a multi-crore land scam, allegedly conspiring with land grabbers and the land mafia. The scandal came to light as reliable sources disclosed that despite swift action taken by the then District Magistrate Avny Lawasa to nullify a fraudulent mutation at Paloura (Khasra No 985, measuring 8 Kanals) under order No DCJ/Rdr/2022-23/47 dated 07/01/2023, the JDA has remained inert, allowing encroachments on prime land valued at crores and is yet to recover the land from encroachers despite the DMs order.
According to sources the land adjacent to Soap Factory Paloura, as well as another JDA plot opposite Lohan Park, near Soap Factory, and nearby lands at Top Plaoura measuring approximately 100 Kanals has been sold while the land under under Khasra No’s 1080, 23 Kanal 13 Marla, 1081, 6 Kanal 3 Marla, and 1081/1, 30 Kanal 5 Marla, is allegedly being encroached, grabbed, and sold through fake Fards, with connivance between the land mafia and JDA officials.
Sources said that the land under above mentioned Khasra Nos which was being encroached upon was stopped by the police but despite that JDA has taken no action till date to reclaim, protect and preserve this land for obvious reasons.
Despite these revelations, the JDA Khilaf Warzi Wing and Engineering Wing, responsible for protecting and preserving JDA land, have failed to take any action over the years. Unauthorized constructions are thriving near Soap Factory Paloura, as the land meant for public welfare is being exploited under the apparent patronage of JDA officials.
When questioned, one of the JDA officials admitted that the mentioned Khasra No.s were in their records but shifted the responsibility to the Khilaf Warzi Wing and Engineering Wing, claiming their duty was to remove encroachments and demarcate land with barbed wires.
The concerned Tehsildar, promising to verify the facts with the law department, has yet to provide confirmation. Sources suggest intentional negligence by these departments, indicating collusion between officials and the land mafia for fraudulent mutations and unlawful sale of JDA land.
Approximately 100 Kanals of JDA land has already been sold, and an additional 50 Kanals is under continuous encroachment, all transpiring under the apparent apathy of those entrusted with the duty to protect government land. The blatant disregard for the rule of law has allowed JDA officials to exploit their positions for personal gain.
The extent of this scandal goes beyond Paloura, with allegations that JDA, in collusion with the land mafia, has been unlawfully handing over prized land to encroachers, potentially resulting in a massive misuse of official authority, fraud, illegal mutations, and the illegal sale of land worth multi-crores.
The sources also added that the concerned Patwari (Paloura) Darshan Kumar is being pressurised to issue Fards for the said land by hook or crook but he has managed to sustain the pressure adding he has told them clearly that he won’t indulge in such frauds as was done earlier by his predecessors and won’t repeat the mistakes that were committed earlier.
The average citizen finds themselves powerless as the very authorities entrusted to safeguard government land for public benefit appear to be feigning obliviousness, capitalizing on the situation to their advantage.
According to sources, a rigorous verification of these complaints would unveil a stark illustration of official authority misuse, fraudulent activities, illicit mutations, and the unlawful sale of a multi-crore scam involving the JDA and certain revenue officials.