'Govt Depts biggest defaulters of Wakaf properties, lands'
TNN Bureau. Updated: 1/18/2018 2:06:59 AM
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JAMMU: Minister for Revenue, Haj, Auqaf and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Abdul Rehman Veeri today told the Legislative Assembly that in the list of major defaulters of the Haj and Wakaf properties, government departments
are at the top. While replying to the concerns of the legislators regarding encroachment of the Wakaf properties in the state, Veeri said, "Government departments are the biggest defaulters of the Wakaf properties and lands."
He was specifically replying to the queries of Ali Mohammad Sagar and Ghulam Mohammad Saroori regarding the steps taken to remove the encroachments around the Eidgah, Srinagar and Kishwtar mosque land.
Veeri told the Legislative Assembly that government departments didn't pay their dues and rents for using the Wakaf properties and lands despite requesting them several times.
"I have requested government departments several times to pay their dues for using the lands and properties of the Wakaf but till date, they didn't pay anything," Veeri said.
He however said that somehow the department will come up with a strategy to recover the rents and dues against the use of its properties. On encroachments around Eidgah, the Minister said that he will talk to Deputy Commissioner Srinagar to do the needful.
On encroachments around Kishtwar Mosque, he said, the negotiations are on with the other party to get the land vacated.
Meanwhile, enumerating the achievements of Auqaf department, the Minister said that during the last fiscal up to December 2017, the department has generated the income to the tune of Rs 1741.35 lakh and expenditure for the said period is Rs 1329.82 lakh.
The Minister said that the Wakaf Council with its mandate has created various public utilities in the state for benefit of beneficiaries and other amenities, besides various proposed projects, which are being discussed at various levels for early initiation including establishment of educational institutions, boarding schools for needy students, construction of sarais/flats/banquet halls/shopping complex at different locations.