Panel asks govt to check encroachment of govt land

A Parliamentary panel has asked the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to look into the matter of encroachment of government land. It expressed alarm that over 3.10 lakh sq m of government land. It asked the CPWD to fix responsibility on the officials concerned to do the needful to prevent encroachment of government land.

Parliament's Standing Committee on Urban Development said that in March, the Urban Development ministry informed that the total area under encroachment is 1,93,434.56 sq m. However in a reply on August 12, the ministry said that the the total encroachment area is 3,10,818.95 sq m.

The Parliament panel rejected the UD ministry's reply that there is no specially designated manpower with CPWD for checking illegal occupation of government land and added that as per CPWD manual, the duty is cast on the Junior Engineer or Assistant Engineer concerned. The panel demanded the Ministry to fix responsibility on the officers, whose negligence has resulted in encroachment.