Jammu: 1,33,954 kanals and 6 marlas of evacuee land in Jammu region is presently under illegal occupation or locked in litigation, while 3,982 kanals, 1 marla and 39 square feet of such land in Kashmir division are similarly under encroachment or sub judice before various judicial forums, Jammu and Kashmir government shared the information in the Assembly few days back.
It said that during the past five years, the department has retrieved 2,441 kanals, 1.5 marlas and 97 square feet of evacuee land in Kashmir region. Proceedings for recovery have been initiated under the provisions of the JK Evacuees’ (Administration of Property) Act, Svt, 2006. However, a substantial portion of the land remains tied up in litigation, with the department vigorously contesting cases to secure early disposal and subsequent retrieval.
To strengthen enforcement, demarcation of evacuee land is underway at several locations in Kashmir region, particularly at Tengpora Bypass, Gang-Bugh, Balhama, Chatterhama, Mujgund and Peerbagh. The exercise is being carried out by revenue teams constituted by the concerned Deputy Commissioners in coordination with the department to clearly identify boundaries, detect encroachments and initiate removal proceedings. A similar demarcation and retrieval drive is also being conducted in Jammu region.
The government also furnished district-wise details of Waqf land encroached upon by locals and private persons, placing the total at 5,907 kanals and 2 marlas across the Union Territory.
In Jammu region, where 4,800 kanals and 14 marlas of Waqf land are under encroachment, the highest figures were reported from Jammu district with 1,479 kanals and 6 marlas, followed by Samba with 1,129 kanals and 15 marlas and Kathua with 910 kanals and 8 marlas. Poonch accounts for 550 kanals and 9 marlas, Rajouri for 479 kanals and 15 marlas, Reasi for 126 kanals and 9 marlas, Kishtwar for 77 kanals and 3 marlas, Udhampur for 31 kanals and 8 marlas, Doda for 9 kanals and 1 marla, and Ramban for 7 kanals.
In Kashmir region, where 1,106 kanals and 8 marlas of Waqf land are under illegal occupation, Kulgam records 250 kanals, Baramulla 240 kanals and 6 marlas, Shopian 120 kanals, Srinagar 118 kanals and 14 marlas, and Anantnag 114 kanals and 3 marlas. Budgam has 54 kanals and 14 marlas under encroachment, Pulwama 74 kanals and 1 marla, Bandipora 78 kanals, Kupwara 26 kanals and 10 marlas, and Ganderbal 30 kanals.
The government reiterated that retrieval efforts are being intensified through demarcation, legal action and coordinated field-level enforcement to safeguard evacuee and Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, a liquor factory in Srinagar is also operating on prime evacuee land, for which the lease was recently extended for 20 years without an auction, invoking rules that predate the current policy. In a written reply, Minister in-charge of Revenue clarified in assembly last month that land measuring 8 Kanals and 11 Marlas, comprising Khasra numbers 572, 573, and 574 at Peerbagh, Srinagar, is notified as evacuee property. It was disclosed that 1 Kanal and 8 Marlas of this land was previously acquired for the widening of Indira Gandhi Road.
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