STATE TIMES NEWS KATHUA: Expressing resentment against administration and revenue authorities for demarcation of land at village Dambra to hand-over the same to Jail authorities for construction of a jail / detention centre, the residents of village led by Sarpanch, Chander Prabha Pathak have asked the concerned authorities to drop the proposal. In an emergent meeting of the villagers, held under leadership of Sarpanch, Chander Prabha Pathak, the participants expressed concern over resent visit of the Jail Superintendent of District Kathua, Koshal Kumar along with revenue officers /officials of Tehsil Mahanpur for identifying land to establish a jail /detention centre over 300 Kanals grass-land situated in the village, without informing any public representative. They further said that after reading newspaper it came to their knowledge that revenue department is planning to hand-over aforesaid grass-land to Jail authorities for establishment of a Jail without taking Sarpanch or villagers into confidence, thereby imposing a threat on survival of livestock of villagers, which is main source of their livelihoods. The participants expressed resentment against wrong decision of Revenue Department and requested concerned authorities not to proceed further in this matter, as it would be against the interests of villagers. Pertinent to mention here that two years back, the member of Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) took an initiative for establishment of an industrial unit or sports stadium over the vacant land to generate employment/ sports opportunities for local youth but revenue officers, particularly ADC Basohli out-rightly rejected the proposal saying that grass-land cannot be transferred to Industry/ Sports departments as per revenue norms. Now, it is matter of great surprise that same officers, sitting at the helm of affairs, are trying for transfer of aforesaid land on their own will, thereby putting lives of poor villagers into trouble. The villagers unanimously decided to restrain authorities from using aforesaid land for construction of a Jail. They Revenue Department to get vacated all grass-land/ state land situated in village Dambra from illegal encroachers, as Department is not making proper demarcations despite various representations and requests. They further asked authorities to open a closure, established by Social Forestry Department about 20-25 years back on aforesaid land for use of villagers besides transferring income generated from sale of standing trees or any other produce of that closure to Panchayat funds. Those who attended the meeting included Panchs Raj Kumar, Padmo Devi, Sanjay Kumar, Gulshan Kumar, Surishta Devi, Parshotam Singh, Rattan Chand, Kishori Lal, Shori Lal, Raj Kumar, Rattan Pal, Birbal, Bimla Devi, Sudarshan Kumar, Balwant Raj, Parshotam Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Ram Pal, Seema Devi, Subhas Chander, Chander Prabha, Sarishta Devi, Ashu, Shori Lal Pathak, Satya Datta, Dewan Chand, Sidhant Pathak and Vinayak Pathak.
