Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Thursday reiterated his government’s firm commitment to get the Government lands free from illegal possessions regardless of any person, howsoever influential he may be. Stating this here at local Circuit House, the Minister also revealed that the Rural Development & Panchayats Department had freed more than 100 acres of land across the state so far. Besides this, during the last two-three days illegal possessions have been removed from 79 acres and one kanal of land including 62 acres of land only in Jalandhar division, said the Minister adding that of 62 acres a chunk of 22 acres of land was freed at village Bullowal in Bhogpur Block. He said that this land was under possession of an ex-Deputy Commissioner since 1987 and after his death, his family was holding the possession.
Lashing out at previous governments both Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress for not taking any concrete steps against such illegal activities, the Minister said that now the Aam Aadmi Party Government would expedite the ongoing drive against encroachments in coming days. He said this would only be ensured by a strong ‘political will’ which the Aam Aadmi Party had already implemented. Giving details of lands being freed from illegal possessions, the Minister said that the agricultural lands would be leased for agriculture purposes as per rules besides utilizing the commercial ones for trades and construction of shops. Some of the saleable lands can be sold out to further strengthen the state exchequer, he added.
Revealing that as per the report of 2010 there were more than 50,000 acres of government land under illegal possession, the Minister said that directions had been issued to the department to prepare fresh details up to 2021 so that requisite action could be initiated. He said that the AAP Government would urge those having illegal possession on these lands to free the lands so that these would be utilized for the development of state. He said Department was fully geared up for following all legal aspects to get these lands free. The State Government would also honour those officers/officials besides panchayats and others people for their efforts to make this drive a grand success by getting illegal possessions removed.Referring to a query regrading the report of Justice Kuldeep Singh on illegal possession of lands, the Minister said that he would get the report in a day or two. In the present context, the various aspects of the report will be considered and take up accordingly, said the Minister. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion include Kartarpur MLA Balkar Singh, Divisional Deputy Director Jagwinderjit Singh Sandhu, DDPO Jalandhar Harjinder Singh and DDPOs of division.