Drive against encroachers: Govt frees 8 bighas of land worth Rs 15 cr

Delhi government has retrieved approximately eight bighas of Gram Sabha land having an estimated market value worth Rs 15 crores beginning on 2 September after carrying out a series of demolition drives in Chhatarpur. Massive drives are also being organised in Maidangarhi, Ayanagar and Asola. 

The drive was conducted by the block development office (South) on the directions of District Magistrate, South. District magistrate (South) Niharika Rai also advised public not to invest their hard earned savings in purchasing such government lands and be aware of unscrupulous property dealers.

Till date, the extensive drive against encroachers has resulted in retrieval of land worth more than Rs 100 crore. A large police force of 600 personnel was roped in to maintain law and order during the operation. The demolition was in compliance with the Delhi High Court order. 

‘In the drive undertaken with full support from the police force, 70 bighas of valuable Gram Sabha land encroached by unscrupulous elements was freed from encroachment. The retrieved land will be utilized for setting up community facilities by various government departments who often face difficulties in finding suitable piece of land for setting up such facilities,’ said DM Niharika Rai.

She said that encroachment of the government/ Gram Sabha lands will not be allowed under any circumstances and the encroachers will be thrown out from every inch of government land. The department has offered the retrieved valuable pieces of lands to all the other government departments for making community assets like anganwadi centres, schools, dispensaries, hospitals, playgrounds, parks etc for the benefit of the people of these villages as well as public at large. Government departments often face constraint of land in constructing these facilities. The land can be allotted to government departments with the approval of Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.