Akshay Azad
JAMMU, Sept 27: A piece of land in Akhnoor area has become a bone of contention between two government departments, both claiming their stake over it and today Irrigation department broke the wall of Forest complex. The move of Irrigation department was objected by Divisional Forest Officer who tried to lodge a complaint with concerned Station House officer (SHO) but SHO refused to register the same. Sources informed Early Times that today morning PHE, Irrigation department authorities broke wall of Forest complex and started construction work over the piece of land. The Forest employees of the area objected over the move while the Range officer has allegedly taken leave, allegedly due to political pressure.
Divisional Forest Officer Jammu informed Early Times that Forest department has 15.15 Kanals of land in Akhnoor area, where a Forest rest house complex, a Nursery and a depot was situated. "The land is under possession of Forest department for the last around six decades, but today labourers on the instructions of senior officials of PHE and Irrigation department broke a portion of Forest wall and started construction work. He further said that they approached concerned Station House Officer but he refused to register a complaint. "Tomorrow, I wll personally take up matte with Senior Superintendent of Police Jammu", DFO said.
Chief Engineer of PHE department KK Gupta maintained that some portion of irrigation land was under the possession of Forest department for the last many years. "Last week we had conducted demarcation of our land in presence of revenue officials and had also conveyed to Forest department for vacating the Irrigation land, but they didn't take any action", he said.
He further informed that though the land was of Irrigation department but PHE department has proposal to construct an overhead tank in the land. "Today we have taken possession of our land", he said. However when contacted Chief Conservator of Forest Roshan Jaggi, he feigned ignorance over the issue. |
