Sangrur land 'encroached upon', probe on
Parvesh Sharma
Sangrur, July 1
The vigilance cell of the Department of Local Government has started an inquiry into a complaint alleging large-scale encroachments upon the Nagar Council (NC) land.
Officers in cahoots with land mafia
Things have come to such a pass because former Nagar Council officers were hand in glove with the land mafia. The land must be vacated and the authorities must initiate legal action against former officers. — Gurwinder Singh, Sangrur Resident
As per the complainant, local resident Satnam Singh, unidentified persons have been collecting rent from shops illegally constructed on the NC land on the Ubhawal road. Six acres is under illegal possession on the same road.
Besides, a village panchayat has allegedly encroached upon 52 bighas of the NC land. About 33 bighas near Kamomajra village, and three kanals and 11 marlas near the old vegetable market have also been encroached upon.
Illegal shops have been constructed on the Barnala and Hareri roads. Another chunk of prime land in Indira Basti here has been encroached upon.
“Things have come to such a pass because former Nagar Council officers were hand in glove with the land mafia. The land must be vacated and the authorities must initiate legal action against former Executive Officers and other NC employees,” said another resident Gurwinder Singh.
The vigilance team today visited the NC office and scrutinised documents. Later, the Assistant Municipal Engineer (AME) and other team members visited the encroached sites.
It was found that the majority of encroachers neither have documents nor they are paying rent.
“We have asked the Revenue Department for the record. Strict action will be taken,” said Rajpinder Singh, AME, Sangrur.
