Roshni Scam effect: How many government buildings and lands are under illegal occupation in Poonch district? Prime Forest land worth crores not retrieved yet
SALIL RAINA
(POONCH TODAY NEWS)
POONCH: The issue of continues illegal encroachment of government lands and buildings including Forest lands in Poonch district remained a routine affair over the years, reason, no body at the helm of affairs took pain to retrieve all illegally occupied government lands and buildings. But, during recent times, on the direction of government, district administration retrieved a large chunk of state lands, but mostly on paper only, because, physically, large number of state lands are still in the possession of encroachers. Forest department Poonch also launched a big drive during the last few months and retrieved a large chunk of Forest lands from the illegal occupants despite facing huge pressure from various corners and such efforts of department needs to be recognized by the government. Meanwhile, related to this issue of illegal encroachment of government lands and buildings, in a landmark judgment, J&K High Court, on the PIL no 19/11 and another PIL no 41/2014 filed by Advocate Ankur Sharma, has ordered CBI inquiry into 25,000 crore Roshni scam and this judgment has shattered the dreams of those who were involved in this high profile scam including former ministers, legislators, powerful politicians, bureaucrats and few others. In this judgment, High Court also directed government to identify all government lands district wise which are not covered by Roshni act. Now the question arises, will district administration Poonch initiate process to identify and vacate all government lands and buildings which are under illegal occupation for years? Although, there are hundreds of cases where state lands and government buildings were occupied by powerful people with the help of politicians in Poonch district and this issue has already been in limelight in public domain, but not solved yet. Large number of government buildings and lands were illegally transferred by Revenue authorities over the years under a well planned conspiracy and those former officers including few Ex-Deputy Commissioners, ACRs, Tehsildars, Girdawars, Patwaris, who remained a part of this high profile nexus over the years must be brought to justice. Under which circumstances and under whose directions, such government lands and buildings were illegal transferred in Revenue papers and few government buildings have still been occupied. A large chunk of Prime Forest land worth crores is still illegally occupied in Poonch and forest department needs to retrieve that also. In such cases, CBI was also directed by J&K High Court to inquire into the continued encroachments on state lands, illegal change of ownership, raising of illegal constructions, failure of authorities to take action for these illegalities, book persons who were at the helm of affairs and remained hand in glove in such acts. Chief Secretary J&K government was also directed to monitor the matter and for giving full support to CBI for the conduct of inquiry without any disturbance. As CBI was directed by High Court J&K for conducting an in depth inquiry into the Roshni scam, the question arises, will government rise from its slumber and order similar inquiry into illegal transferring of several government lands and buildings in Revenue papers and also illegal encroachment of various government buildings which are still under illegal occupation in Poonch district? Like CBI inquiry into Roshni Scam, illegal encroachment and occupation of government buildings and lands in Poonch also needs CBI inquiry for ensuing victory of law over evil forces. If all state and forest lands are retrieved by government from illegal encroachers in Poonch, then it can be used for many developmental projects like schools, hospitals, universities, colleges, highways and for many projects and retrieved forest lands can be used for increasing forest wealth which has a huge importance from safe and healthy environment point of view. Government of J&K needs to solve this issue at an earliest as slight delay in initiating a probe may likely to prove futile in future.
