Process on to take back land ‘encroached’ by Jai Guru Dev trust
AGRA: Amid heavy police deployment, the Mathura administration on Saturday initiated proceedings for acquisition of land allegedly encroached by the Jai Guru Dev Trust in Mathura.
The administration focused on 2.63 hectare land on which there is no reportedly no stay order. This piece of land is said to belong to the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC).
The proceedings follow the notice issued earlier by the Mathura administration to the Jai Guru Dev Trust. The notice was served after the Allahabad high court took a tough stand on the issue. The high court had asked the state authorities to instruct the district administration to initiate the process to have the land, owned by the UPSIDC and allegedly encroached by Jai Guru Dev Ashram Trust, vacated.
The district administration’s action comes just two days before the hearing in the HC on September 18. The UPSIDC had earlier forwarded a report regarding encroachment on 41 hectare land by the trust. The administration had served a show cause notice earlier this month. The management of the Baba Jai Guru Dev Trust has reportedly replied to the notice.
Mathura DM Arvind Malappa Bangari had issued instructions on Friday for initiating the process of acquisition. The measurement process began on Saturday. Heavy force from different police stations, supported by Provincial Armed Constabulary, was depl oyed in the area as revenue staff led by ADM (finance and revenue) Ravindra Kumar swung into action .
Earlier, a survey of 106 hectare of land owned by the UPSIDC was conducted and encroachment was alleged on 41 hectares in Mathura. The Mathura police and the administration are treading with caution in view of the large-scale violence that claimed 29 lives during an operation to evict squatters from Jawahar Bagh in June last year.