Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 14
Aiming to clear panchayat land of encroachments, the Punjab Rural Development
and Panchayat Department has directed its officials to get criminal cases
registered against all such illegal occupants.
In all, 27,000 acres of panchayat land was under litigation either
due to illegal occupancy or some other reasons. A majority of such cases had
been reported in villages situated on the periphery of towns or cities where
the land cost was high.
In Mohali district, where the land prices had skyrocketed in
recent years due to its proximity to the state capital Chandigarh, there were
413 pending cases.
Director (Rural Development and Panchayats) Balwinder Singh
Multani said, “We have already cleared encroachment from 719 acres of land in
Patiala district. A similar action is being planned in other districts of the
state in coordination with the deputy commissioners and the district police
chiefs concerned.”
The department has warned its officials that action will be taken
against them as well in case their connivance was established in any such case.
They had also been told that action will be taken against them under the
service rules in case they failed to act against illegal occupants.
The offenders will be booked under Section 7 of the Punjab Village
Common Lands (Regulation) Act 1961. The law authorises department officials posted
at the district headquarters to file a case.
Multani said it had come to their notice that at some places,
panchayats were not acting against those occupying village land illegally.
“Officials have been told to deal with such cases on a priority,” he said.
During the current financial year, Rs 219.17 crore had been
gathered as revenue from the auction process held for renting out 1.40 lakh
acres of panchayat land. The figure stood at Rs 208 crore during the 2011-12
financial year.
Legal tangle
27,000 acres of panchayat land is under litigation
In most of the cases, the reason is illegal occupancy
Villages situated next to cities and towns are the most vulnerable
Mohali district (situated next to Chandigarh) has 413 such cases
In Patiala district, the state government has already freed 719
acres
A similar action is being planned in other districts
Revenue source
The state government has been earning hefty revenue by giving
panchayat land on rent
During the current financial year, Rs 219.17 crore has been gathered
by renting out 1.40 lakh acres of land
The revenue last year stood at Rs 208 crore.
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