If State Land Opposite Div Com’s Office, Panama Chowk Isn’t Safe, What About the Rest of Jammu’s Retrieved Land?
- State land in Bahu Tehsil, retrieved from encroachers in a major anti encroachment drive in October 2022, has been re-encroached, including a prime plot opposite the Divisional Commissioner’s office and a portion opposite Panama Chowk with a big multinational brand using it for parking purpose; What if this brand starts construction in future. What steps is government taking to prevent this?
- Â The re-encroachment of the land designated for the JMRDA office raises serious concerns about the administration’s negligence and potential complicity in allowing land grabbers to reoccupy the area.
- The failure to secure the prime patches of State Land retrieved in Tehsil Bahu with effect from September 2020 to November 2022 in Bahu raises doubts about the government’s ability or willingness to protect public assets and enforce the law, particularly given CM Omar Abdullah’s recent warnings against corruption.
- Â Jammu Jottings is investigating the extent of the re-encroachment and will soon publish a detailed report with evidence, including specific Khasra numbers and the possible involvement of revenue officials, to expose the truth behind this resurgence of land grabbing in Bahu Tehsil.
jj correspondent
Jammu, November 27 : A shocking resurgence of land grabbing in Jammu’s Bahu Tehsil has exposed the administration’s failure to protect valuable state assets. Land retrieved from encroachers in 2022, after a major anti-encroachment drive, has once again fallen into the hands of land grabbers, raising serious questions about official apathy and potential complicity.
In October 2022, a determined effort led by the then Deputy Commissioner Avny Lavasa (IAS),Then ADC Harvinder Singh (IAS), and Then Tehsildar Rohit Sharma resulted in the retrieval of approximately 12 Kanals of state land in Bahu Tehsil. This significant achievement was hailed as a major victory against powerful land mafias operating in the region.
However, the subsequent administration’s failure to secure and utilize the retrieved land has allowed encroachers to re-establish their hold, rendering the previous efforts worthless. Sources reveal that a substantial portions of retrieved State Land including , a prime plot located directly opposite the Financial Commissioner Revenue (FCR)/Divisional Commissioner’s Jammu office , and a prime commercial portion opposite Panama Chowk, has been re-encroached by a big multinational brand which is using this retrieved State Land space for parking purposes.
The question remains that the Multi National Brand which is using the said portion of retrieved State land for Parking purposes might start construction in future and hence it remains to be seen what immediate action the district administration takes to retrieve this land. Pertinent to mention that the aforementioned patches of commercial State land, subsequent to their success full retrieval with respect to state land measuring 12 Kanals falling under (Khasra Nos. 55, 56, 57, 58, and 59) located in front of the Divisional Commissioner’s office at Panama Chowk in Rakh Bahu village, already stands transferred to the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD) in October 2022 for the construction of a new office for the Jammu Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (JMRDA).
Despite the official transfer and the land’s intended use for a critical infrastructure project, a significant portion has been re-encroached and is currently being used for parking. The fact that this encroachment has occurred directly opposite the Divisional Commissioner’s office raises serious concerns about official negligence and a potential deliberate lack of action. The failure to secure the land with fencing or other protective measures, despite its intended use and prime location, raises suspicions that this neglect was intentional.
When questioned about the re-encroachment, the current Tehsildar claimed to be unaware of the situation but promised to investigate. This response, however, offers little reassurance to the public, given the scale of the problem and the apparent ease with which land grabbers have reoccupied the retrieved land.
The re-emergence of land grabbing in Bahu Tehsil raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to protect state assets and combating corruption. If land directly opposite the Divisional Commissioner’s office can be so easily encroached upon, it casts doubt on the security of the valuable prime State Land retrieved successful in Tehsil Bahu, District Jammu which was actively and successful retrieved with effect from September 2020 to November 2022.
Jammu Jottings is currently investigating these allegations and will soon publish a detailed report with evidence of the extent of re-encroachment across Bahu Tehsil, including specific Khasra numbers and the identities of those involved. This report will also shed light on the potential involvement of revenue officials in facilitating these illegal activities.
The government’s response to this resurgence of land grabbing will be a crucial test of its credibility. Will they take decisive action to secure state land and hold those responsible accountable, or will they allow this valuable public asset to be plundered for private gain? The public is watching closely, and the future of Jammu’s land resources hangs in the balance.
