Illegal dwellers oppose demolition drive

Quthbullapur: The Revenue department officials who have been receiving flak for turning a blind eye to illegal constructions by land-grabbers faced stiff resistance from residents and encroachers in Kaisarnagar when they reached government land in survey no 342/1 to take up demolition of their dwellings. They not only opposed the officials’ action, but also wanted those who had sold the land to the poor punished They also threatened to end their lives if the department resorted to harassment and refused to vacate.

Locals dared the department to take action against those who had done notary of the lands and register cases against the lawyer, and pointed out that that they had paid Rs.2-3 lakh to purchase the sites. They wanted cases to be registered against two brokers who had sold government lands and erection of department boards indicating government lands. “Such action alone would render justice to the poor,” they informed the Revenue officials, even while expressing anguish. In words of defiance, the poor accused the officials of siding with land-grabbers for monetary considerations. They alleged that the revenue staff had taken bribes running into lakhs from the poor. ‘But now they were threatening to pull down their dwelling’, wondering how far it was justified.

The residents told The Hans India that the department was a silent spectator for years when five encroachers of Devendernagar had been selling government lands, as its officials were habituated to taking bribes. ‘The officials are virtually playing with our lives’, they pointed out. They alleged that VRAs were constructing rooms on government lands in Devendernagar and Kaisarnagar, succumbing to the dictates of the staff on the amounts. In such a scenario who would save government lands, when those who are supposed to protect them are themselves in shady deals. The residents accused the Revenue staff if giving information to encroachers after reports appeared in the media even as the scribes stated that the reports were intended to save government lands.

They alleged that MRO Gouham kumar who had adopted negligent attitude after being informed about the activities of land-grabbers, even determining in a survey of a venture in survey no328 that 1.5 acres of government land in 3298/1 was part of a venture. 'The MRO's standard reply to posers has been that the department would take action against land-grabbers, without bothering to provide details of the action launched, citing election as an excuse.