District Magistrate Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, has directed for immediate survey in respective Patwar Halqas on illegal conversion of agricultural land for commercial or residential purposes in the district and furnishing of updated asami-wise lists with all relevant details within two weeks.
The order directs all Tehsildars to conduct extensiveinspections within their respective areas of jurisdiction and prepare lists ofillegal constructions or conversion of agricultural land or earth-filling inwaterbodies or other illegal encroachments in their respective Tehsils andsubmit detailed plans for removals thereof.
It also directs the Forest department to furnish informationabout encroachments on the forest land if any and in wetlands in the district.
The order also directs the Lakes & Waterways DevelopmentAuthority and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation to conduct comprehensivesurveys of encroachments in their respective domains and furnish details inthis regard to the DC Office within two weeks. It states that reported encroachmentswill be removed as part of the Tehsil-wise encroachment removal plans.
It warns of very strict disciplinary action involvingcriminal proceedings against officials who do not report or indicate violationsof relevant law provisions in concerned revenue records.
The order also instructs concerned SHOs and Trafficauthorities to ensure that except those with valid transportation permissionsindicating date and time no movement of trucks carrying construction materialbe allowed anywhere in the district.
It also directs LAWDA, SMC and Forest Department toimmediately set up night checkpoints at entry points to prevent nighttimetransportation of material for illegal constructions. It directs for immediateseizure of all such vehicles or load-carriers transporting constructionmaterial in violation of guidelines in this regard. It also instructs forstrict maintaining of registers recording all important details of all suchvehicles allowed or seized at these checkpoints. It states that non-compliancein this regard will attract strict action.
The order states that an amount of two lac rupees each hasbeen sanctioned in favour of Tehsildars for assistance in digitisation ofencroachment and illegal land conversion details, formulation of encroachment removalplans and assistance required to be acquired for operations involving removalof such encroachments.
It states that Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar K KSidha will oversee implementation of the order. He will obtain dailyinformation on progress report and action taken against instances of illegalconstructions or movement of transportation material therefor.
The order is aimed at ensuring implementation and preventionof violations on ground of provisions of the J&K Agrarian Reforms Act (Section13) and the J&K Land Revenue Act (Sections 133-A and 133-B) and stringentaction as per law in case of violations thereof. It is also aimed at ensuringimplementation of High Court directions in this regard.