Srinagar, Dec 01 (KNS): The Deputy Commissioner Baramulla has allowed the developers of a proposed colony in estate Singhpora area of Pattan in north Kashmir's Baramulla district to continue the filling work on a portion of more than 20 kanals of land after the reports of Tehsidar and SDM Pattan that the land in question was recorded as Maidani.
In its order number DCB/SQ/1918-21 dated 23-11-2016, the DC Baramulla in response to application of one Manzoor Ahmad Bhat and others, said there is no obbection in allowing the filling/levelling of land in the estate Singhpora under survey numbers 758 min, 761 min, 762 min, 763 min, 842 min, 845 min "which is recorded as Maidani."
"The land has been mostly under cultivation of maize as per records and since 2007 has been fallow on spot except portion of 758 min and 845 min which is partly Maidani. Besides, no Khaschara/State land is involved in the above survey numbers," the order states.
"The SDM Pattan has recommended the case with the report that as land in question has not been under the cultivation of shali/vegetables/saffron and is recorded Maidani as per records and fallow for the last many years on spot as per Girdawari, hence there shall be no objection in allowing filling, levelling of land in question," it added.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Earlier, objections had been raised by the locals that encroachment of a big chunk of wetland spread over an area of hundreds of kanals in Bab Dembra area in Singhpora was being done by illegal earth filling by two land brokers in connivance with PDP MLC Yasir Reshi
They had also claimed that it was the flagrant violation of a house committee direction and a High Court judgment asking for winding up of commercial activity in the area.
In 2012, the State Legislative Assembly had constituted a House Committee to ascertain the factual position regarding the illegal encroachment of wetlands for its conversion to residential purposes in Srinagar, Bandipora and Baramulla districts under the Chairmanship of then MLA, Saif Ullah Mir. The committee was constituted after PDP leader and then MLA Pattan Molvi Iftikhar Ansari threatened hunger strike against the land encroachment in Pattan and Sonawari area.
However, Mir Saifullah told KNS that in estate Singhpora, no wetland was found in the area. "There is no wetland in the area as was found during our examination of the records," he told KNS.
SDM Pattan while talking to KNS said there was no wetland in the area and the land in question was Maidani. (KNS)