Will JDA Act Decisively and retrieve the lost land or surrender to Land Grabbers?
- The Vice-Chairman of JDA has ordered a fact-finding inquiry into the alleged involvement of Naib Tehsildar Kasturi Lal in facilitating encroachments on JDA land near Lohan Park, Paloura.
- The area near Lohan Park has a history of land scams and alleged collusion between JDA and Revenue officials, raising concerns about a pattern of inaction and potential corruption within the JDA.
- The incident highlights the vulnerability of JDA land to encroachment and the fraudulent sale of illegally converted land to unsuspecting buyers, resulting in significant financial losses for individuals and the state exchequer.
- The public is demanding a thorough investigation by an independent agency, such as the Crime Branch or ACB, and decisive action to retrieve the encroached land, hold the culprits accountable, and protect JDA land from further illegal activities.
Mohit Mehra
Jammu, November 13: The Jammu Development Authority (JDA) is once again embroiled in a land encroachment scandal, with allegations of official complicity and a pattern of inaction raising serious concerns about the protection of public land.
A recent letter (No. JDA/VC/2024/209, dated September 14, 2024) from the Vice-Chairman of JDA has brought to light the alleged involvement of Naib Tehsildar Kasturi Lal in facilitating encroachments within JDA Zone A/B. The letter specifically mentions the construction of houses on several Kanals of JDA land near Lohan Park, Paloura, Jammu, and demands a fact-finding report within 15 days.
However, the alleged encroachment near Lohan Park is not a new revelation. The area has been a hotbed of controversy for years, with repeated instances of JDA and Revenue officials allegedly colluding with land grabbers to illegally convert and sell public land to unsuspecting buyers.
This latest incident raises several critical questions:
Was the JDA truly unaware of these ongoing encroachments, or was there a deliberate attempt to ignore them?
Given the history of land scams in the area, why has no decisive action been taken against the officials involved?
Is the Khilafwarzi wing of JDA, responsible for preventing encroachments, complicit in these illegal activities?
This is not an isolated incident. Estimates suggest that over 200 Kanals of JDA land have been encroached upon, either with the direct involvement or through the negligence of JDA officers and employees. One particularly egregious case involved the illegal mutation of 8 Kanals of JDA land, which was eventually cancelled by the then-Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Avny Lavasa.
The current scandal highlights a disturbing pattern: JDA land is illegally converted into private property with the help of Revenue officials and then sold to innocent buyers, who face the consequences when the fraud is eventually exposed.
The Vice-Chairman’s letter demanding a fact-finding report is a welcome step. However, the public remains sceptical, given the JDA’s past inaction. Will this letter finally lead to concrete action against the culprits and the removal of encroachments, or will it be another exercise in futility?
The public demands a thorough investigation into this matter. The case should be referred to either the Crime Branch or the ACB to ensure an impartial inquiry and swift justice. The government must hold accountable those responsible for the massive loss to the public exchequer and take decisive steps to protect JDA land from further encroachment. The credibility of the JDA and the government’s commitment to upholding the law are at stake.
