The cabinet sub-committee formed to ensure maintenance of Government Assets and Lands has sought a record of all government owned lands from all the Government Boards/Departments/Corporations and other government institutions. It has also been decided to constitute a committee of experts headed by Justice Saron and ex-DGP Chander Shekhar which would also include representatives from various other departments and would advise the sub committee.This was disclosed here in a statement by the Chairman of the Committee and the Local Government Minister, Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu after a meeting. The meeting saw attendance by the Rural Development and Panchayat Minister, Punjab, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister, Punjab, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria . Mr. Sidhu further said that as per the disclosures made in the meeting the total value of the government land under illegal occupation in Mohali District alone exceeds the debt of the Punjab which is 2 lakh 10 thousand Crores. Similarly, if the lands of such nature are identified in the whole state then it can lead to the rejuvenation of the Punjab from economic point of view.During the meeting, ex-DGP Chander Shekhar disclosed that a total of 5 to 6 lakh acres of government lands are under illegal occupation throughout Punjab.
Presenting the facts and figures pertaining to Mohali District alone, ex-DGP said that as per the records officially made available by the District Administration Mohali a total of 15 villages of the district have 2435 acres of government land under illegal occupation out of 2585 acres.Giving village wise data, he said that in village Majri 90 acres out of 128 acres, in Palampur 20 out of 20 acres, in Kansala all 95 acres, in Paraul 299 acres out of 318 acres, in Sialba all 16 acres, in Dulban Khadri all 945 cacres, in Hoshiarpur all 177 acres, in Dhakora khurd all 15 acres, in Chandpur all 86 acres, in Mullanpur Garibdas all 5 acres, in Ferozepur all 23 acres, in Nada all 307 acres, in Mehmoodpur all 14 acres and in Bhankharpur 259 acres out of 352 acres are under illegal occupation. Similarly, the report of Justice Kuldip Singh was also discussed which seconded the disclosures made in the ex-DGP Chander Shekhar's report. Giving details of 2 more villages, Chander Shekhar said that in village karaura 22000 kanal land and in village nada 16113 kanal land is being illegally encroached upon.Sidhu detailed that in order to know the status of the government owned lands in the state the cabinet sub committee has sought the record from all the departments/boards/corporations and other government institutions regarding the lands related to them and has also sought the details with regard to the aspect that how much land is under illegal occupation, how much land is under litigation and how much is laying unutilized.
The minister also said that it has come to the notice of the cabinet sub committee that the record of these departments doesn't match with that of the revenue department and instructed that the same be rectified.Mr. Sidhu also said that it has also been decided to constitute a committee of experts headed by Justice Saron to free these government lands from the illegal occupation. The committee would advise the cabinet sub committee. The committee to be formed would also include ex-DGP Chander Shekhar, President Govansh Sewa Sadan Mr. Joginder Pal, Mayors of all the 10 Municipal Corporations, besides a representative each from the Revenue, Water Resources Management, Local Government, Rural Development & Panchayat, Forest, PWD (B&R) and Waqf Board.In the meeting Chairman of the Revenue Commission, Punjab, Mr. Justice S.S. Saron, Additional Chief Secretary cum Financial Commissioner Revenue Mrs. Vinni Mahajan, Principal Secretary Local Government Mr. A. Venu Prasad, Principal Secretary Water Resources Mr. Jaspal Singh and Advisor to Mr. Sidhu-Mr. Angad Singh Sohi were also present.