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| Land mafia on prowl in Srinagar | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 27: In stark contrast of the vision of the Raj Bhawan that no government land grab would be tolerated, irrigation canals are being encroached upon in the low-lying areas of Srinagar in full daylight.
Sources said "land mafia" in league with the officials in the Irrigation and Flood Control Department in particular have been allowing the encroachment of the irrigation canals, especially in south Srinagar areas like Rawalpora, Humhama, Hyderpora and Pirbag.
Sources said government land area in the form of canals is being brazenly encroached upon and that the IFCD has been silent.
Sources said the grab of canals is a "big deal". "The rate of one kanal land is such areas is over Rs. one crore and when the canal is encroached upon the issue deal can only be imagined," said a senior official on the condition of anonymity.
He said the problem has been that despite numerous complaints of encroachment of canals, the IFCD has been silent.
"What is shocking is that in the last two-three years since when JK is under the direct control of the Raj Bhawan, such land grab has only intensified," said a source in the IFCD.
"Why don't concerned officials act against such encroachers is not known," said an official in the IFCD on the condition of anonymity.
It was reliably learnt that a civil society group has decided to submit a referendum before the Raj Bhawan and seek strict action against the ICFD officials for failing to safeguard canals.
"One can only imagine what prevents the IFCD from an on the spot inspection of the affected areas and find the encroachments and get it demolished. Their inaction and silence explains the rot in the system," said a lawyer.
When contacted IFCD officials downplayed the matter saying that that complaints would be looked into.
Asked why no action was taken, the officials tried to put blame on the Revenue department officials.
Meanwhile the concerned citizens have appealed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to personally look into the matter. |
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