Azad fixes time-frame for recovery of encroached land in J

Jammu, Nov 28 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today emphasised the implementation in letter-and-spirit of the the ordinance issued for retrieval and cost realisation of state land from all illegal occupants as per different categories mentioned in it.

While presiding over a high level meeting of revenue officers of Jammu division here, he fixed a calendar for initiating action in this regard. Accordingly, all revenue agencies will start issuing notices to the illegal occupants after proper groundwork till December 15.

The process of delivering notices to the illegal occupants will commence on December 15 and continue up to December 31, 2006. After delivering of notices issued by Tehsildars and served by Nambardars against proper receipts, the applications, in the prescribed form, will be collected by Nambardars and deposited in the office of concerned Tehsildars by or before January 21 next year.

Immediately thereafter, meetings of committees constituted under the ordinance shall begin the disposal of applications and fixation of price. It was decided in the meeting that recovery of cost of land shall begin from January 27, 2007, onwards.

The Chief minister said that any person holding the land illegally beyond 10 kanals has to surrender the excess land in any case, adding that land up to 10 kanals only can be processed for grant of ownership rights.

Asking people to be part of historic initiative taken in this direction to mobilise resources for infrastructure development and launching of public service projects, Mr Azad said that the state expects huge amounts with the implementation of ordinance.

As per reports compiled by the ggovernment, about 20 lakh kanals of land, worth Rs 25,000 crore, has been identified under illegal occupation of people in the state.

UNI HGV PKS HT2237