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| Land Mafia eyes Patnitop hill station | | |  Ashwani Sharma
Early Times Report
Udhampur, June 19: The popular hill station Patnitop in district Udhampur is facing grave threat from the land mafia.
Sources informed that illegal constructions are going on unabatedly in Patnitop and the concerned authorities are watching like mute spectators.
The Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) and Forest Department are watching felling of tall Devdar and other trees to make hotels and residential houses.
Sources informed that there is a big network of land mafia behind all this which also includes some well known politicians and bureaucrats.
Insiders informed that huge graft is offered to the concerned authorities to remain mum and in turn these authorities walk an extra mile and apart from remaining mum they also facilitate such constructions.
Surprisingly there is no authority to ensure accountability in this case and if there is any one to do so, it never comes forward to play its role honestly. This hill station also contributes to State's economy and many people ranging from a petty vendor to a hotel owner earns livelihood there. Dr Satish-environment specialist informed that if the cutting of tall devdar and other trees is not stopped at Patnitop then soon the number of such trees here will decrease which will affect the climate of this area.
When contacted CEO PDA (Patnitop development authorties ) Rajinder Singh said that we have stopped construction and we will try to take strict action against those involved in illegal constructions. |
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