A major success in the retrieval of encroached land in the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in Kulgam district comes after 1500 Kanals of land was retrieved from influential people in the district, an official said.
An official said, in the whole Union Territory (UT) the anti-encroachment drive and the eviction process is ongoing and in this regard, Kulgam district has also retrieved hundreds of Kanals of land from influential people, who had misused their power to grab the state land.
Dr Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat (IAS), Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam said, the reclaimed land was put to good use for the public, the playground, educational facilities, and other uses.
“1500 Kanals of encroached land retrieved from influential persons in Kulgam and during this drive no landless person/family was targeted,” DC said.
The news published in some media portals about the demolition of homes of poor/landless families is groundless and concocted, he said.
“During anti-encroachment, landless or poor people will not be touched and the process will retrieve the land from influential people who misused power to grab state and Kahachari land,” he said, adding list of Influential people who have encroached the State and Kahcharie Land has already been framed and eviction is underway after proper procedure under the law.
Meanwhile, Tehsildar Kulgam told Rising Kashmir that 690 Kanals had been evicted from powerful persons in Tehsil Kulgam alone.
“The 690 kanals of land taken from influential persons have been utilised for public welfare, including two large pieces of land given over to the Industries department,” he said.
Two spaces were given to the Rural Development Department (RDD) for the playground and agricultural department, respectively, while other highly valued spots were given to the Municipality for Development Projects, Tehsildar Kulgam added.