Governor NN Vohra on Saturday ordered the concerned officers to undertake satellite mapping to retrieve more than 2.35 lakh acres…
NN Vohra (Photo: SNS/File)
Governor NN Vohra on Saturday ordered the concerned officers to undertake satellite mapping to retrieve more than 2.35 lakh acres of government and forest lands that has been encroached in Jammu and Kashmir.
Vohra was presiding over a high-level meeting for a first-hand assessment of the scale and nature of land encroachments in the state.
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After the detailed presentation by KB Aggarwal, Financial Commissioner, Housing and Urban Development Department, the Governor expressed serious concern over the encroachment of more than 2,23,056 acres of government land.
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Vohra directed all district collectors in the state to immediately carry out comprehensive mapping of all encroachments relating to state, forest and panchayat lands, Dal, Wular, Nageen lakes and other water bodies, highways and public roads in their respective jurisdictions and forward them through the Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu by 31 July.
He directed the collectors to make full use of available technologies, such as geo-tagging and satellite mapping to prepare a fully verified database by the given date.
The Governor directed the Chief Secretary to ensure that the instructions earlier issued by the Revenue Department, pursuant to the Supreme Court Orders in “Jagpal Singh Vs. State of Punjab and Others” should be suitably revised to clearly lay down the roles and responsibilities of district and divisional administration regarding encroachments on government and public lands.
Vohra directed that both divisional commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir valley, after they receive base data reports from their district collectors, should prepare by 15 August lists of major encroachments, especially on National Highways, major roads, public places, commercial hubs, etc., especially those which are causing obstruction or nuisance and initiate time-bound action for the eviction of encroachments.
He also directed that the police department provide all required assistance by deploying adequate forces to remove illegal encroachments.
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