Probe illegal colonies on forestland in Jammu: BJP

Expressing shock over the setting up of illegal residential colonies on 7183 Acres of forest land in Jammu, the BJP today demanded high level probe into grabbing the forestland and the people involved in the crime needs to be prosecuted.
"An enquiry should be conducted into the whole matter of grabbing the 7183 Acres (57468 Kanals ) forestland in Jammu and the people involved in the crime needs to be prosecuted", BJP State Spokesperson, Prof Virender Gupta said here today.
Gupta said that these colonies be declared as illegal and unauthorized and other necessary action be taken that includes stopping of power supply, water supply etc.

"The Deputy Chief Minister should also take serious note of the matter and take the appropriate action", he said.
He expressed his surprise on the revelation by Deputy Chief Minister in the state assembly that 57468 kanals of forest land is under ten residential colonies in Jammu.
The reason forwarded by the Minister are increasing population in and around Jammu city, inadequate forest land record, emerging land mafia, poor and damaged revenue records and absence of demarcation on field, he said.
The basic reason for the emergence of these colonies on the forest land is the corrupt practices adopted by the previous ministers, concerned officers and other people having political connections, he alleged.

The colonies cannot be regularized as they have come up on the forest land and no permission was granted from the Government for the construction of these colonies, he added.