A day after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha assured that no common man would be evicted in the ongoing anti-eviction drive, authorities finalised a massive drive to evict the influential encroachers from government land on January 20.
According to the official documents accessed by The New Indian, among others, many prominent political families along with retired bureaucrats and businessmen are in possession of the state land.
In addition to them, the UNMOGIP office, which holds the United Nations military observer officials in J&K, is also listed among those who are in possession of the state land with the expired lease.
LG Manoj Sinha said that the influential people, who have violated the law to grab state land are being targeted under the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in the union territory.
He further commented, “Only those who have misused their position and power to capture the government land will face action, not the common or poor people’’.
Among the political families, the Abdullahs hold a total of approximately 40.33 kanals of land in different places of Srinagar, followed by the kith and kin of former Prime minister of J&K Bakshi Gulam Mohamad, who hold approximately 38.82 kanals of land in Srinagar.
Many other senior politicians are also in illegal possession of state land. Prominent among them are Former chief minister Gulam Nabi Azad’s two brothers namely Nissar Azad and Sajad Azad; National Conference (NC) leader and former Minister of State, Sajad Ahmad Kichloo; his brother Tanveer Kichloo and his relatives; senior Gujjar leader Choudhary Zulfikar Ali, a former PDP’s MLA and Former Minister; senior Congress leader and former Minister Abdul Majid Wani; senior BJP leader and former Minister, Abdul Gani Kohli. A total of 30 politicians are tipped to be in possession of the state land.
Among the influential business houses in the valley, the major violators are the owners of Hotel Khyber, Hotel Nedous, Hotel Pine Palace, Hotel Grand Mumtaz, Hotel Hilltop and Hotel Royal Castle.
In the case of Hotel Khyber, apart from leased land, 9 kanals and 6 marlas of excess land have been occupied by them. Similarly, in respect of the Nedous Hotel, excess land of 100 kanals and 13 marlas has been occupied by them, and 17 structures, including huts and staff quarters, have been built on the same.
In respect of Hotel Pine Palace/Platinum, apart from lease land, excess land of seven kanals and 6 marlas is in the hotel’s possession. Likewise, in respect of Grand Mumtaz, apart from lease land, excess land to the tune of three kanals and 18 marlas is in the possession of the present possessor, Mushtaq Ahmed Chaya.
In respect to the Hilltop Hotel, the official document reveals that the lease granted has expired, but the present owner, Ajaz Ahmed Chaya, is in possession of four kanals and 14 marlas of excess land and a concrete multi-storey building has been raised over the same.
In respect of the Royal Castle hotel, apart from lease land, an excess of seven kanals and 6 marlas of land is further in possession and a concrete building and other structures have been raised over the same.
Earlier today, the Supreme Court refused to grant a stay against the circular issued by the J&K government directing Deputy Commissioners to remove encroachers from state land.