Central Command gears up against land mafia

THE CENTRAL Command, Headquarters, Lucknow, has summoned officials of all the four Cantt Boards on Wednesday to work out a strategy to check the menace of unauthorised construction and encroachment on Defence land.

Taking a strong view of media reports highlighting the rampant unauthorised constructions and encroachments on defence land in various Cantonment areas of India, the Central Command has convened this meeting. The Hindustan Times had, recently, highlighted the issue of rampant unauthorised constructions in Meerut Cantt land and failure of the Cantt Board officials in taking action against culprits and exposed the mafia-officials’ nexus.

“A meeting has been called in the Command to discuss the issue of unauthorised constructions and encroachments along with other matters,” said Dhanpatram, Director, Defence Estate in Central Command.

Sources said initially the CEOs and the heads of Engineering Departments of Meerut, Agra, Jabalpur and Bareilly Cantt boards have been asked to submit a report on their issue. From Meerut, CEO JS Mahi and Executive Engineer Anuj Choudhary will be attending the meeting.

It must be mentioned that big shopping malls have come up on defence land in Meerut in the recent years.

The audacious builders have erected these huge shopping complexes without having the plans passed. They have even violated directions of the High Court.

Much of the construction work is, reportedly done in the night to evade detection. Residents have demanded stern action against culprits.