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Pristine Patnitop land up for sale; will Govt order probe? | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi Early Times Report JAMMU, Nov 30: Powerful bureaucrats and police officers both serving and retired alongwith officials of Revenue and Forest Department have either grabbed or purchased several hundred kanals of pristine forest land in Patnitop, a top tourist destination of Jammu and Kashmir. Sources in the Forest Department told Early Times that retired as well as serving IAS, IPS and IFS officers have purchased several hundred kanals of land in Patnitop during the last 8 to 9 years. They said that these officers used their might to ensure that the title of land is changed wherever it is required for purchase and in other places where they could manage; they have simply grabbed the land, constructed temporary structures over them. Sources further said that a senior IAS officer who retired recently has purchased several kanals of land in the interior of Patnitop. They added that this officer has purchased the land on the name of his wife and daughter to ensure that he is never asked about the source of money for purchasing this huge chunk of land. Sources disclosed that this land is forest land but due to manipulation done by the Revenue Department, it has been shown as revenue land and sold to the IAS officer. Sources further disclosed that three police officers, all of whom have retired have purchased green patches in Kud and Batote areas which are on the two opposite side of Patnitop. They said that these three officers have shown the forest land as revenue land and then, purchased the same from some local who has sold them the same at throw-away price. Even the cost that they have paid for land is something beyond an honest officer's reach, added the officials. They further said that a retired IFS officer has purchased five to seven kanals of land in the dense forests of Patnitop. "This officer has grabbed the land intelligently and it won't be easy for the Government agencies to detect this land grab. And even if detected, not much is going to happen since he has been telling one and all that he intends to use this patch of land for constructing a tourist hut while ensuring that trees on the land are not cut for this purpose," said an official. He added that same is the story of several other police and forest officers who have purchased land in and around Patnitop on the names of their relatives, friends and family members. A local on being asked said "Let the State Government order an impartial inquiry into all the land deals that have taken place in Patnitop and its vicinity during the last 8 years. Once this is done, truth will come out and shock all those who talk of land grab in and around Jammu region." They will be surprised by the modus operandi adopted by these top officers, some of whom have retired and some are serving, said the official. He added that those who talk of law are themselves the biggest violators. "It would be of great interest for all to see from where they have managed these huge sums of money and purchased land even in green zone. But it is highly unlikely that Government would be able to make any move against these top officials," added the official. Official sources in the Forest Department further said that all these officers are waiting for the completion of Nashri-Chenani tunnel. Once Nashri-Chenani tunnel is through, State Government is likely to focus on increasing tourism infrastructure in Patnitop and its adjoining areas which includes Kud and Batote, said an official. This will give an opportunity to these officers to either construct palatial hotels or sell this land on high prices to outsiders especially non-State subjects or construct huts over this land. Despite being repeatedly contacted, Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology Bali Bhagat did not pick up the call. |
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