Authorities Recover 50 Kanals of Encroached Land in Jammu Kashmir District | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district retrieved 50 kanals of state land valued at around Rs 60 crore during an anti-encroachment drive conducted at Birpur (Balole Khad) in Bari Brahmana under the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyaan, officials said on Sunday.

According to officials, the land had earlier been transferred to Jammu and Kashmir Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (JK SIDCO) for allotment to industrial units aimed at promoting industrial development in the region. The land was later found to be under illegal occupation by encroachers, including persons reportedly involved in narcotics smuggling and drug-related activities.

The District Administration Samba, in coordination with the police department, carried out an eviction drive to restore possession of the land.

During the operation, authorities demolished 33 illegal structures constructed on the encroached land at Balole Khad. These included four concrete structures, 12 kullas, 16 temporary structures and 17 cattle sheds, officials said.

Following the drive, possession of the retrieved land was formally handed over to JK SIDCO, according to the administration.