Urgent Call to Chief Secretary: Demand for Action on Jammu’s Lingering Gair Mumkin Khad Land Disputes.
||Black and White Digital News||
||November 15 ,2024 ||
Jammu : In a bold step towards addressing Jammu’s pressing land concerns, Gaurav Gupta, former General Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu, met with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today, submitting an urgent memorandum aimed at resolving prolonged land disputes. The primary focus of Gupta’s appeal was the long-standing issues surrounding the Gair Mumkin Khad areas, a matter impacting countless residents who find their lands entangled in bureaucratic delays and departmental inaction.
Gupta’s memorandum began by acknowledging the significant progress made by the Jammu & Kashmir administration, particularly under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. He lauded the administration’s effective resolution of land delineation cases in the Kathua and Samba districts, which provided clarity and stability to numerous landholders in these areas. Yet, Gupta emphasized that these successes had not fully extended to Jammu, where challenges surrounding Gair Mumkin Khad lands remain a critical and unresolved issue.
Highlighting a government directive issued five months ago, Gupta pointed out that the Irrigation Department was tasked to assess and finalize the width of the existing Khads. This directive aimed to demarcate boundaries clearly, protecting landholders from encroachment risks and ensuring rightful ownership. Yet, Gupta noted with frustration that despite the directive, the department has shown what he termed “a shocking level of apathy and inefficiency,” with negligible visible progress to date.
“This inaction is not only frustrating but deeply disappointing,” Gupta stated. “The affected residents continue to suffer due to the Irrigation Department’s callous attitude and lack of accountability. This disregard for official orders indicates a troubling gap between policy decisions and their actual implementation, which is unacceptable.” He voiced concerns about the human cost of this delay, pointing out that, for many families, these land disputes are not just administrative hurdles but matters of economic security and justice.
Gupta underscored that beyond the technicalities, the lingering land issues pose a severe risk to the livelihoods of local residents, impacting their daily lives and threatening community stability. “This is not just an administrative lapse but a failure of duty that undermines public trust and threatens community welfare,” he asserted, pressing for accountability within the Irrigation Department.
In his passionate appeal, Gupta called upon Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo to enact immediate and stringent measures, including a clear directive to the Irrigation Department to take responsibility for the delays. He urged for decisive action, insisting that continued inaction should lead to consequences that underscore the need for departmental accountability and efficiency.
Chief Secretary Dulloo, recognizing the urgency and gravity of Gupta’s concerns, assured him that the administration remains fully committed to addressing these challenges. Dulloo expressed understanding of the community’s frustration and committed to prompt action to ensure that the Irrigation Department fulfills its duties and that land disputes are resolved expediently.
Today’s meeting between Gupta and Dulloo reflects a critical step in bridging the gap between policy and implementation, a gap that has hindered the resolution of Jammu’s Gair Mumkin Khad land issues. For affected residents, Gupta’s push for action offers renewed hope that these enduring disputes may soon find resolution, restoring both their rights and their trust in the administration’s commitment to justice.
