Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 17 Feb: In a decisive and effective action, the Dehradun district administration has ensured lawful possession of land allotted 15 years ago in Village Atak Farm, Pargana Pachhwadun, Tehsil Vikasnagar, to its rightful owner. Following restoration of possession, the beneficiary woman, accompanied by her brother, expressed gratitude to the District Magistrate, Dehradun.
It may be recalled that the case pertains to residential plots allotted to families displaced under THDC India Limited’s Tehri Dam Project at Atak Farm, Selaqui, Vikasnagar. Upon receiving a complaint regarding illegal occupation of residential Plot No 29 allotted to Sumer Chand and others, prompt action was initiated under the directions of the District Magistrate. Delivering what has been described by the administration as a decisive blow against the ‘jungle raj’ of land grab, the district administration restored possession of the residential plot to the displaced family under the Tehri Dam Project. The lower middle-class displaced couple had reportedly been deprived of their residential land, which was under illegal encroachment for years now. The administration ensured that the long-encroached land was handed back to the rightful beneficiaries, following which the couple met the authorities to convey their appreciation.
It may be recalled that the beneficiary woman had some months ago met District Magistrate Savin Bansal during a public hearing and registered her complaint that the land allotted to her in compensation to displacement from Tehri had been encroached upon. Garhwal Post had also reported the complaint.
In compliance with the directions of DM Bansal, a joint enquiry team was constituted by the SDM. The team comprised the Survey Lekhpal, Kanoongo, Revenue Sub-Inspector (Rehabilitation), Revenue Inspector (Rehabilitation) and Assistant Engineer (Rehabilitation) of Tehsil Vikasnagar.
The team conducted an inspection at the rehabilitation site in Atak Farm. During inspection, Plot Nos. 15, 16, 17, 27, 28 and 29 were verified against the approved layout plans of the Tehri Dam Project and the relevant revenue records. Upon comparison, it was found that the allotted plots formed part of Khasra Nos. 301, 302 and 303 had been acquired for the rehabilitation of families displaced by the Tehri Dam Project.
The joint enquiry revealed that heirs of late Kundan Lal Joshi had illegally occupied the said land and were cultivating sugarcane upon it. Taking serious note of the matter, the District Magistrate directed the officials to remove the encroachment forthwith. Under the supervision of the district administration, illegal occupation was removed from Khasra Nos. 301, 302 and 303, and lawful possession of Plot No. 29 along with the related plots was handed over to complainant Sumer Chand and other beneficiaries in accordance with due procedure.
After securing legal possession of their land, the beneficiary couple today called on DM Bansal and conveyed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the district administration, stating that their long-pending grievance had finally been resolved due to the proactive intervention of the authorities.
Meanwhile, the DM today reiterated that the administration remains fully committed to protecting the rights of eligible beneficiaries and affirmed that strict action against land grabbers and land mafias would continue.
