Has DC Poonch taken any action against erring Revenue officials? Criminal silence on illegal constructions in “Flood Zone”
POONCH TODAY NEWS
POONCH: Revenue blunders in Poonch district remained a regular routine with the involvement of officials from bottom to top, but none of the Deputy Commissioners could muster the courage to streamline the revenue department for several years.
However, DC Poonch vide his no DCP/PA/1614-17 dated 22-06-2021 addressed to Tehsildar Haveli under the subject ‘Explanation’ inquired about the performance of Tehsildar Haveli on progress achieved on the issue for removal of encroachments/retrieval of State/Common/Kahcharai land. Even the issue of poor performance in completing Jamabandies and attestation of mutations, DC had shown his displeasure. On the issue of illegal mining and illegal conversion of agricultural land, the administration also was not happy. In that letter, which was simultaneously addressed to other top revenue officials, DC gave them seven days’ time to explain their position. Now, after more than 40 days, what is the output of that strong gesture of DC Poonch. Was DC serious in his efforts or was the gesture only a hoax to show people that the administration is working seriously? Similarly, two orders were issued by the administration from time to time on the issue of illegal constructions near S.K Bridge, which was declared as “Red Zone” area. Even an inquiry committee was formed last year to be lead by ACR Poonch and he was directed by the administration to provide a report of illegal constructions in “Flood zone” as per videography of the area conducted in 2018 to know the status of illegal constructions, but after passing of more than six months, the committee of ACR Poonch failed to proceed further and it points toward a big mafia operating in the Revenue department that has been allowing illegal constructions in “Red Zone” in addition to facilitating conversion of agriculture land into commercial one under a possible planned agenda. During the ongoing monsoon, the silence of district administration on brazen illegal constructions in “Red Zone” is highly questionable and only a high-level inquiry could bring real facts in the public domain on the issue of criminal silence maintained by the administration for long. The brazen involvement of officials from Revenue, PWD, and Irrigation department allowed these illegal constructions in “Flood Zone”. Even the Irrigation canal, water bodies, PWD road embankments, have been encroached, and many structures were built on it, but the concerned departments have not taken any action other than writing a letter to SHO Poonch for lodging an FIR by the Irrigation department. The whole system of the district administration has deviated from its track as many revenue blunders are coming into the public domain. DC Poonch, if serious, must inform the public about his action against revenue officials as per the above-said letter, if any, taken by the administration. Will DC Poonch speak on the issue of illegal construction in the “Flood Zone” also? Only time will tell.