LIT reclaims encroached land

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, May 2

In an anti-encroachment drive carried out at Maharishi Valmiki Nagar, officials of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) got evicted unlawful occupants on nearly 1,000 square yards of prime land. The structures on the land were pulled down with a bulldozer while directions were given to the staff of engineering wing to remove the debris and construct a boundary wall to secure possession of the land, which has a market value of more than Rs 5 crore.

The Superintending Engineer of LIT, RK Garg, who supervised the two-hour operation, said a complaint had also been lodged with the police against unidentified persons, seeking registration of a criminal case for encroaching on government land. This particular chunk of land was earmarked for special purpose (institutional) in the layout plan of the colony.

He said certain unidentified persons had taken possession of land and initially, a boundary wall was raised which was demolished by the LIT staff. “However, the unlawful occupants commenced construction of rooms apparently for residential purpose which have been demolished and possession secured by the Trust,” Garg added.

He said LIT would pursue the police complaint in the right earnest, so the culprits were identified and brought to book. The registration of criminal case by the police and prosecution of those behind encroachment on Trust land would serve as a deterrent to others, said Garg, adding that drive against encroachments would continue relentlessly and LIT was committed to safeguarding its land and properties.