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| Land mafia re-emerges at Pahalgam, presses for removal of fencing | | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Anantnag, June 8: To grab state and forest land at Pahalgam, the notorious 'land mafia' has re-emerged again at this South Kashmir's famed tourist spot.
The mafia , this time has stroked tourism card and is pressing hard for the removal of railings erected to not only preserve the flora and fauna at the tourist spot but snub the efforts of land grabbers who want to encroach the prized land at Pahalgam.
According to reports, the land mafia through different channels is trying to mount pressure on concerned departments including Pahalgam Development Authority for removal of fencing.
"It is open secret that land-mafia is having strong connections with politicians and top bureaucrats. Argument that the fencing has turned Pahalgam into jail is absurd because fencing has not only preserved the flora and fauna but is also giving peaceful time and privacy to visiting tourists," a tourism official said. Chief Executive Officer Pahalgam Development Authority, Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani maintained that areas of Pahalgam were fenced by different departments as per requirement from time to time during last eight years.
"Wildlife Department fenced Pahalgam Mini-Zoo as per their act which is their requirement similarly Forest department fenced the area to protect the saplings they planted. Fencing will help both the department and it will ensure rejuvenation of forests besides is stopping further encroachment of land," he said.
CEO said that Floriculture department fenced Pahalgam Club Park and Poshwan Park while as Amusement park was fenced by Jammu and Kashmir Bank which maintains it. He said that Pahalgam Development Authority this year fenced 86 Kanals of land after retrieving it from land grabbers near Hotel Plaza and named it serene Park. "All these fenced parks are generating income for their respective departments besides keeps them neat and clean," he added.
Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani informed that Pahalgam has five thousand registered horses and during annual Amaranth Yatra the figures rises-up therefore they can't control their entry into these parks if the fencing is removed.
National Conference Leader and MLA Pahalgam Altaf Ahmad Kaloo said that he will not allow the removal of fencings as same will help land mafia to grab the land.
Government last year admitted Pahalgam has seen maximum encroachment in Kashmir with 33.81 hectares of forest land grabbed by 145 encroachers. |
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