Shocking: Poonch fort land encroached from all angels with the involvement of revenue officials; Violation of Ancient Monument and preservation Act 1997
SALIL RAINA
(POONCH TODAY NEWS)
POONCH: Poonch fort was declared a state-protected monument nearly eight years ago and in this connection, PDA issued official orders many times banning constructions near the fort, but during the recent past, the majority of illegal constructions and big business establishments have come by brazenly violating the Ancient monument and preservation act, Samvat 1977 (1920 . A.D ) (Act Now of 1997) thereby PDA violates its own orders by not taking any action against those who are violating the laws openly. A large chunk of land belonged to the Poonch fort from all corners have been encroached by few political people with the convenience of corrupt revenue officials. Over the years, tainted revenue officials have been using a successful technique of earning money from encroachers and that is to send notices to encroachers to vacate the land and in return, used to get the hefty amounts as commission to stay silent. This fort land which has been encroached by few political workers has become a “Gold mine” for revenue officials and all this has been going on in the heart of Poonch city. Many important business projects have come up around Poonch fort in brazen violation of the Ancient Monuments and Preservation Act 1997. The government has spent crores of rupees to give Poonch fort, which is divided into six compartments, a new look to attract inflow of tourists to Poonch to make it a perfect tourist destination, but the failure of Poonch Development Authority and Revenue department in taking action against the encroachers of Poonch fort land has raised a question mark on the efficiency of the Poonch administration. Moreover, Municipality officials have not taken action against those who constructed illegal shops and Khokhas in front of Poonch Fort and their work are also under the question mark. Earlier, this newspaper also published the activities of illegal constructions near Poonch Fort, and acting on that story, the government directed the administration to stop such illegal constructions. But again, a number of illegal constructions and the emergence of various business establishments around Poonch fort have come up for which the administration is solely responsible. Interestingly, all this is going on within 1 km of the office of District administration and within 100 meters of Tehsildar office. Many commissions were made by the administration to retrieve all land(21 kanals) of Poonch fort, but what happened to the reports of successive commissions is still a mystery as tainted revenue officials preferred to earn money from encroachers, least bothering about retrieving the entire Poonch Fort land from the clutches of encroachers. Even, renovation work of Poonch fort has come under question, as reportedly, PDA authorities and blue-eyed contractors earned heavily from the renovation work. Precious wood worth several lacs was taken out of Poonch fort for the personal use of PDA officials and contractors, thereby, giving a huge setback to the government exchequer. The double standard of Poonch Development authority was also exposed a few months ago when construction in Degree college was stopped by PDA on the plea that a heritage building of Bagh Deodi is near and nobody shall be allowed to construct anything, but as far as Poonch fort is concerned, PDA seems to have allowed illegal constructions and many business houses on the land of Poonch fort. Many times, PDA circulated an order banning construction near Poonch fort. The order which reads as “It is informed to the general public of Poonch city that as per SRO 17 and in the exercise of the Power Conferred by subsection 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, Samvat 1977 (1920 . A.D ) (Act Now of 1997) the Government hereby declares the Poonch Fort in District Poonch along with Land Measuring 21 Kanals falling under kharsa No:-1550 and 1553 as the State protected Monument within the meaning of the said act. SEC 20 A (Every area beginning at the limit of the protected area of protected Monuments, as the case may be and extending to the distance of 100 meters in all directions be a prohibited area in respect of such protected area “No construction Zone). SEC 20 B (Every area, beginning at the limit of prohibited area in respect of every ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remain declared as of national importance under sections 3 and 4 and extending to a distance of two hundred meters in all direction shall be a regulated area in respect of every ancient monuments and archaeological sites) SEC 30 A (Any construction in the prohibited area shall be punishable with imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or with fine which may extend to one lac rupee or both. Any construction/dumping of building material/installation of Rehari / Phari or hoarding within above said limit in all directions is strictly prohibited”. The said order was issued by Chief executive officer Poonch Development authority. But, in brazen violation of this order, many illegal constructions and business houses have come on the encroached land of Poonch fort, which is really a serious concern. It shows the law is for the poor person and not for influential. It is pertinent to mention here that District Poonch is falling in Seismic Zone IV-V of the earthquake and it is surprising that how the administration allowed constructions of more than two-story buildings and that too in the heart of Poonch city in front of Poonch fort. It seems that law exists nowhere as far as the working of administration is concerned. Since there is no master plan right now and vested interest are taking advantage of this loophole a large number of illegal constructions and business houses have come up by encroaching the land of Poonch Fort which is a state-protected monument now. A high-level inquiry is needed from LG’s administration as to why revenue officials of Poonch administration failed to retrieve the entire land of Poonch fort and those, who remained hand in glove with encroachers must be taken to task. The entire land of Poonch Fort must be retrieved from all angels and those illegal constructions and business houses, which have come on the land of Poonch fort, must be taken to task as per law of the land, feel locals. The administration seems to be in deep slumber over the issue. A tough action from the government is the need of the hour.
