The Hindu : Call to review Tughlakabad land transfer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 24, 2003

Other States

Other States - New Delhi

Call to review Tughlakabad land transfer

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI JAN. 23. The Lok Janshakti Party senior vice-president, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, led a delegation to meet the Union Tourism and Culture Minister, Jagmohan, today and sought an immediate review of the decision of the Land and Development Office to transfer 2,800 bighas in Tughlakabad village to the Archaeological Survey of India. This had created a scare among thousands of residents who fear that their structures would be demolished soon.

Mr. Bidhuri, who along with some leaders, including the former BJP president, Mange Ram Garg, and a number of senior citizens of rural Delhi met Mr. Jagmohan, told reporters that as per revenue records of the Delhi Government, Tughlakabad was developed as a capital by Ghyasuddin Tughlak, founder of the dynasty of that name during 1310 AD.

The city comprised not one but four forts, he said, and the area comprising the forts is not occupied by anybody and they are in absolute possession of the ASI. The ASI is also in possession of, and has been maintaining, the outer boundary wall that encircles Tughlakabad and there is no dispute over this land.

The people of the area had been residing on this land since 1849, as per records, and had been paying taxes for the past 50 years. But in 1995, the L&DO, in an arbitrary move, transferred these 2,800 bighas to the ASI although people were living here and a number of community services were running there.

Claiming that the transfer was void and bad in law, the Lok Janshakti leader said that of the total land handed over, old houses were existing on around 500 bighas. The remaining land was not built up and was being used as cattle sheds. "Even the revenue records state that nearly 2,000 houses existed here before 1857.''

Backing his claims further, Mr. Bidhuri said the delegation pointed out to Mr. Jagmohan that both the Delhi Government and the Delhi Development Authority had spent funds on undertaking various works, including electrification, sewer lines, roads and drainage in the area, in the past four decades.

In fact, the DDA had prepared a developmental plan for the area in 1982-83. The land transferred includes buildings, a primary school, a dispensary, a community centre, an Arya Samaj temple, a village pond and other such amenities but all this was overlooked by the L&DO while undertaking the land transfer.

Even more shocking is the fact that the land that had been illegally transferred to ASI was allotted by the Union Government to refugees who had come from Pakistan after Partition. It is unfortunate that the large number of people who took part in the freedom struggle from this village is being termed as encroachers.

He urged Mr. Jagmohan to review the acquisition and ensure that justice is done to the thousands of people living there. "We have been promised a sympathetic hearing by Mr. Jagmohan and he has said he would visit the area to personally get a first-hand feedback on the ground realities."

The BJP state unit president, Madan Lal Khurana, along with the Union Urban Development Minister, Ananth Kumar, would also meet the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K.Advani, to apprise him of these facts soon,'' he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

Stories in this Section

Kidnapped boy rescued

CM blamed for the 'worst power crisis'

Book on World Cup cricket released

DU teachers seek economic, physical security

Call to review Tughlakabad land transfer

Court blames Vikas Yadav's counsel for delay in trial