Shopian, Apr 19: Despite repeated assurances, the administration allegedly has failed to evacuate the huge area of the state land under the “illegal occupation of some influential persons” at Zawoora here in south Kashmir. Even the land belonging to the Government School has not been evacuated yet.
 “The administration has time and again assured us that the encroached land would be evacuated soon but till now their promises have proved to be a hoax,” locals said adding that even the school land continues to be under illegal occupation.
 Pertinently, a few people in connivance with some local politicians and a few officials in the administration have occupied 183 Kanals of state land under Khasra no. 147.
 The land includes some 6 Kanals belonging to Government High School, Zawoora.
 Many of them, according to locals, have raised concrete structures and built residential houses.
 “Though the district administration has been trying hard to get this land vacated from the encroachers but as most of them happen to be cohorts of some local politicians and have the support of a few officials within the administration, they have not been successful either,” residents alleged.
  “It is an irony that the government is supporting the hooligans and supporting them to go for illegal occupation of the state land and also grab school land,” said Muhammad Akbar, an elderly resident.
 Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Shopian, Muhammad Anwar refused to comment on the issue while Deputy Commissioner (DC), M S Sood could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST