JK Govt Launches Probe into “Land Grab, Illegal Encroachments” in Bandipora Market

Suhail Rather

Srinagar, Jan 29: In a major development, the Jammu and Kashmir government has launched an investigation into the alleged land grab by way of encroachments and change of land title in Bandipora Market.

Role of some government officials is also under scanner in 'facilitating' or ignoring these illegal acts.

District Vigilance Officer Bandipora Umar Shafi Pandit has constituted a two member team of senior revenue officers who shall thoroughly investigate the matter and submit their report in weeks’ time.

         According to the official sources, massive land grabbing, illegal encroachments and change of land titles in Bandipora town, especially commercial hub of the town, have come to fore during scrutiny of papers obtained through Right to Information (RTI) Act after which the investigation was launched.

         The two-member committee shall investigation the allegation of selling of state land  and Kahcharaie Land falling under survey no 368, illegal sale of shops falling under survey no 2734 state land at Gulshan Chowk Bandipora to land grabbers, granting of title verification and subsequent permission for the construction of a shopping complex on state land at  several locations in Bandipora market.

The committee will also investigate illegal encroachment of fire gaps by influential individuals and  land mafia, fraudulent recording of land in Khasra Girdawari and digitized Jamabandi without executing sale deeds and encroachment of water bodies, irrigation canals and streams recorded as Gair Mumkin Kouls.

         The government has asked the committee to conduct a thorough investigation into each case and gather relevant documents , records and evidence to substantiate the claims.

         According to the order No DCB/DVO/2023-24/153-57, the investigating team will interrogate all the involved parties including revenue officials and individuals while Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) has been asked to oversee and coordinate the investigation process.

         Earlier Kashmir Convener in its various reports highlighted the menace of land grab and encroachment of roads, fire gaps and state land in the town by influential people in the past in brazen violation of Bandipora town plan were encouraged by the previous governments and hence no action was taken against them.

         Locals had time and again appealed to the Lieutenant Governor administration to restore the town’s glory by removing all the encroachments.

Built with proper town planning in the late 60s by then Prime Minister Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad after a devastating fire incident, Bandipora town featured 90-degree roads with two parallel roads running parallel to the main market from Nowpora up to Jamia Qadeem (Ward No 05). “Unfortunately, successive administrations have not only neglected to safeguard these roads but have also overlooked any potential expansion,” Kashmir Convener quoted locals in a recent editorial. “The proposal to open these parallel roads for light vehicles could reduce frequent traffic jams on main roads”.

Despite the administration's initial decision to redirect light vehicular traffic through Khadim market, the entire stretch of Khadim Market has fallen victim to encroachments by shopkeepers.

 Surprisingly, the Municipal Council Bandipora seems to be endorsing such encroachments by collecting fees from vendors who set up stalls on roads especially around Gulshan Chowk, providing them with legal protection, locals allege.

During Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's aggressive drive against encroachments, Bandipora has a distinction of  standing out as the only district where substantial on-ground action was lacking, with only media statements issued regarding encroachment drives.

Residents of Bandipora appeal to the Lieutenant Governor to appoint a dedicated team of officials in Raj Bhawan to oversee and ensure fair investigation.

“The current LG government has dealt with such big fishes with iron fist, so we hope Bandipora glory will be restored only by the current government that has zero tolerance towards corruption,” locals told Kashmir Convener.