Inquiry ordered into construction of school building over forest land Rajouri administration wakes up 6/11/2014 Early Times Report RAJOURI, June 11: After repeated complaints by the habitats of village Panjgrain in Manjakot tehsil, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri has initiated an inquiry into the allegations that the primary school building was build on forest land instead on the land donated free of cost by a villager. The inquiry was initiated in the month of January this year vide Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) office order No.PS/ADC/115 dt 4/1/14 and Naib Tehsildar, Manjakot was asked to carry the inquiry and submit the report within 7 days. Chief Education Officer (CEO) Rajouri was also asked to submit the documents related to the construction of the primary school building. Vide his office letter No CEOR/SSA/2014-15/1317-18 dt 29/4/2014 directed Zonal Education Officer, Manjakot to provide the required information/documents for further submission to Deputy Commissioner Naib-Tehsildar has submitted the required revenue records related to PS building which reportedly has confirmed/ established that the building was constructed on the forest land illegally instead on a land donated free of cost by a villager. But despite several remainders by the CEO and Chief Planning Officer (CPO) the concerned Zonal Education Officer (ZEO), (Manjakot) is deliberately avoiding to submit the required documents/requisite information. The last remainder was send to the Chief Education Officer (CEO) on May,23 vide Deputy Commissioner Officer letter No PS/DDCR/2013-14/232 under the subject conduct of inquiry in the construction of primary school building at Tadyal (Panjgrain). As the concerned ZEO not responding positively to the remainders I will write to the Deputy Commissioner to take necessary action against the officer under law said Choudhary Lal Hussain, CEO. When contacted Shah Nawaz , ZEO, Manjakote said that the matter has been slipped out of his mind and by Tuesday he will send the required information to CEO to be forward to Deputy Commissioner. Habitats of village Panjgrain through Zakir Iqbal,Naib-Sarpanch have informed the DDC (copy to deputy chief minister who is also education minister) that since the start of the construction of the school building on the forest land on Khasra No334, they have approached every authority concerned to stop the illegal construction of the school. Zakir said that in the past several inquiries were conducted on their complaints and in every inquiry coducted by the Revenue, Education and Police departments it was established that the school was constructed on forest land instead the land offered free of cost by one Mohd Amin resident of village Panjgrain. Under agreement with the education department Mohammed Amin had to construct the building on the land donated by him but he constructed the school building on Forest land in nexus with officials of education, revenue and forest departments, as was alleged by Zaqir Iqbal, naib sarpanch. He added that immediately after the construction work of the building was started on forest land (Khasra No 334) by Mohd Amin the issue was taken up with all the concerned departments . Several inquiries were made and every time it was established that the building was illegally constructed on Forest land. All the inquiry reports were attached with the complaint to Deputy Commissioner in the Month of January this year. But instead taking any action on the reports Deputy Commissioner again initiated inquiry vide ADC officer letter No PS/ADC/115 dt 4/1/2014 and directed the naib tehsildar to initiate inquiry in the complaint said Zakir . He added that during previous inquiries the construction was declared illegal by the Naib-Tehsildar concerned vide his office letter No NTM/541 dt12/3/2013 and by the forest range officer vide his office letter No 420 dt19/9/2012 after verification from revenue department that Khasra No. 334 is forest land covering 1,725 sq ft. Despite all these facts the building was constructed in connivance with officials of the forest ,revenue and education departments. Divisional Forest officer (DFO) vide his office letter No2147/DFOR dt 20/9/12 had also directed the Forest Range Officer to stop the construction work. In addition to this the complaint was also investigated by the Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and in his report to SSP he has mentioned that some discrepancies were found in the construction of the building including that it was constructed on the forest land instead constructing it on a piece of land (khasra No 503) donated by one Mohd Amin son of Mohd Hussain resident of Naika Panjgrain who is a government employee. Village Education Committee (VEC) in the resolution had informed the Education department that Mohd Amin has donated 3 kanals of land in Khasra No 503 free of cost and as per agreement the building was to constructed by Mohd Amin (Tasveer Begam wife of Mohd Amin as contractor) The construction work was started on July 16.2011 but instead constructing the building in Khasra No 503 Mohd Amin in nexus with revenue , forest and education officials constructed the building in Khasra No 334 belong to Forest department. On the clearance forwarded by Shah Nawaz Khan, ZEO Manjakot the payment of Rs7.4 lacs was also relaeased by the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Rajouri , as alleged by Zakir Iqbal. Zakir Iqbal , naib sarpanch has also demanded an investigation alleging that the members of Village Education Committee (VEC), two Rehber-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers appointed in the schools and cook for mid day meal are sons, nephew and brother of Mohd Amin and school is being run by his family. Instead giving benefits of this school to the inhabitants of the area only one family has been involved in the affairs of the school and getting benefits said Zakir Iqbal.
Posted on: Thu, 12 Jun 2014 06:28:18 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015