3500 kanals of Waqf land under illegal occupation: Government ‘2500 kanals under forces’ use; Choudhary family occupying prime land at Gandhi Nagar’ Jammu, Mar 3:Of the 3500 kanals of Waqf properties, which are under illegal occupation of the government in J&K,2500 kanals are held by forces, the State Government informed the Legislative Council Monday. The government came under sharp criticism in the Upper House from opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by its legislature party leader Naeem Akthar over its failure to retrieve the encroached Waqf properties. In his written response to a question of Akthar, Minister for Hajj and Auqaf Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed informed the House that more than 3500 kanals of Waqf land are under illegal occupation of the government departments in the State, of which 2539 kanals are alone under defence/Army. Giving break-up of the land under the “occupation” of the forces , the Minister submitted that 28 kanals have been encroached by them in Srinagar, 09 kanals in Bandipora, 107 in Kupwara and 132 in Islamabad (Anantnag). In Jammu province, 465 kanals of Waqf land are under forces in Poonch, 544 in Rajouri, 1267 in Jammu district and 62 in neighboring Kathua district. Jammu and Kashmir Police, according to the reply, has illegally encroached upon 197 kanals of Waqf land. Besides, different Central and State Govt departments like Education, Rural Development, Urban Local Bodies and Railways are holding 700 kanals of the Waqf land, the Government said. The Minister informed the House that no committee was constituted in 2012 to scrutinize functioning of the Waqf Board, Akthar contradicted him by saying that Chief Ministers office has constituted a three-member panel for the purpose. Akthar even handed over a copy of the order to the LC Chairman pertaining to the probe into messy affairs of the Waqf Board, issued by Chief Ministers office in 2012. Embarrassed Peerzada responded to Akthar by saying; “Your question pertained to 2013 and may be the probe was ordered in 2012 or 2011. Akthar also questioned the government for “omitting” the names of persons who are occupying Waqf properties in Gandhi Nagar. On Akthars persistence, the Minister revealed that Choudhary family is occupying the Waqf land at Gandhi Nagar. #Bhat_Basit
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 09:13:00 +0000
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