J-K Govt to slap PSA against land grabbers

Jammu, Feb 16 (PTI) With media exposing various landscams in Jammu, the J-K government today decided to imposePublic Safety Act (PSA) against the land grabbers if they donot vacate the encroached prime lands of the government.

"We ask the land grabbers to vacate the governmentland voluntarily, otherwise they will face action under PSA,"Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhallasaid while interacting with people in Channi Himat area.

He asked the people not to encroach government landsand said that revenue department has asked the DivisionalCommissioner and Deputy Commissioners to identify the landgrabbers and take stern action against them.

During the past week, there were media reportshighlighting politician, bureaucrats and police officersinvolved in grabbing prime lands in Jammu city.

Instructions have been issued to revenue staff to stopgiving ownership rights of ''gair mumkin khuds'' (unorganisedwetlands), which were the main source of encroachment by theland grabbers, he said.

Bhalla warned the officials against patronising andofficially supporting the land grabbers.

It may be recalled that the famous Gol Mahal heritagemonument was damaged by the Property Dealers despite a probeordered by government to stop any further encroachment anddestruction of the monument.