The Srinagar administration has compiled a list of encroachments and illegal constructions in the district and completed all legal requirements for initiating proceedings of retrieval of encroached State and common lands in the district.Clear-cut instructions have been issued to concerned authorities to take immediate action including initiation of criminal proceedings against encroachers and their eviction and demolition of illegal structures built on State or common land.On Wednesday after completing relevant formalities the administration swung into action and demolished 10 illegal structures and retrieved over 23 kanals of prime State land from encroachers at Zoonimar estate of Eidgah area in old city. FIRs were also lodged against land grabbers on the occasion.Meanwhile concerned departments have submitted lists of illegal structures and encroachments on State and common lands in the district to the office of the DC. These together add up to a total of 1200 encroachments.Requisite proceedings for their demolition and retrieval of encroached State land are in progress.The Revenue department of the district has meanwhile identified massive encroachments of land transferred to different departments and is initiating relevant proceedings as part of the action against encroachers aimed at retrieval of the said lands.Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary who has ordered strict action against encroachments and illegal constructions in the district has instructed for close liaison among all the concerned departments including the law-enforcement department in order to ensure planned proceedings and successful retrieval of all encroached lands.It should be noted that retrieval proceedings of State and common land in the district was intensified last year.
Between March and December over 50 kanals of prime State land was retrieved from land-grabbers and encroachers.Special focus in this regard is being given to encroachments in waterbodies of the district. Encroachments in the forms of landholdings and illegal constructions are being finalised for initiation of action in well-planned anti-encroachment drives.The Revenue department has compiled detailed reports with assami-wise details of identified encroachments identified in waterbodies.The DC has directed for cancellation of illegal entries in revenue records where required and also sought explanation from concerned agencies about the basis on which civic amenities have been provided to colonies and structures raised on the state land and in areas of waterbodies.It is notable that relevant proceedings in this regard have been initiated in the case of Khushalsar lake where encroachers have been served notices for eviction and around 80 illegal structures are being demolished.Concerned authorities have been instructed to deal with interference in retrieval proceedings therein sternly. It was said interference would attract strict criminal and legal proceedings.Dr Shahid speaking in reference to it assured of immediate and time-bound action including initiating the processes of eviction and demolition of illegal structures to free all water bodies of the district of encroachments.He said the administration has compiled detailed reports along with locational maps indicating names of encroachers and those involved in land-grabbing and illegal constructions in the district.Meanwhile the DC has urged the general public to report to concerned authorities all cases of land-grabbing and illegal constructions on state land and water bodies in the district and help the district administration in its renewed efforts to safeguard these public assets of great importance. He has also assured of strict action against officials for dereliction of duties or lapses involving illegal constructions in their areas.