Vigorous drive against land encroacher on anvil

Bhalla reviews working of Revenue and Relief Departments

After assuming the charge Minister for Revenue and Relief, Mr. Raman Bhalla took review of the Revenue and Relief departments in an officers meeting here today.

Secretary Revenue, Mr. Ejaz Iqbal, Settlement Commissioner, Mr. B.D. Sharma, Custodian General, Mr. Kifayat Sayed Rezvi and senior officers attended the meeting.

The Minister while taking the appraisal of the functioning of the departments asked the officers to render dedicated service to the people making promptness and responsive attitude the benchmark of their functioning.

Mr. Bhalla said the department is confronted with a challenge of land grabbing and encroachment of government property which has turned into a nexus. He said department has to take stringent measures to break this nexus and eradiate the menace of encroaching public property for personal gains.

He said that a vigorous drive against land encroachers will be launched to evacuate the state land. He also cautioned the revenue functionaries allegedly involved in encroachment of state land in the state, adding that they will not be speared at any cost. He directed the concerned authorities to identify the land that has illegally been occupied.

The Minister asked the Custodian General to evacuate the custodian property from the illegal occupants and make an inventory of such property so that same could be used for better purposes.

Mr. Bhalla issued strict instructions to the Revenue officers for speeding up the land acquisition cases for developmental projects across the state, as delaying of such cases affects timely completion of the projects. He also stressed for simplifying the compensation procedures..

The Minister also asked the officers and field functionaries of Revenue department to simplify the issuance of State Subject and other certificates and ensure that the beneficiaries are not let to suffer for unnecessary delays. He said that disposal of files at appropriate quarters in a timeframe be ensured so that dispensation of justice is not marred.

Later, the Minister also met a number of deputations and a large number of individuals.

Deputations of Numberdar Association led by President, Mr. Bashir Ahmad Teli, interact with the Minister and put forth their demands.

Another deputation from Kargil led by former Minister, Haji Nissar Ali raised their demands and discussed various issues with the Minister. Besides, as a large number of individuals also met the Minister and put forth their demands.

The Minister listened patiently and assured them that their demands would be look into.