|
AP netas' gobble up wakf land |
|
Wednesday, 10 February 2010 |
|
HYDERABAD: In a confirmation of what has long been suspected, the state government’s second survey of Wakf Board properties has established that in the past 50 years almost 40% of land has been encroached upon by politicians and realtors. Many of these encroacher politicians were either part of the Wakf Board or were having key influence on the board.
The first survey between 1958 and 1965 showed the Board possessed 1.33 lakh acres across the state. “But the second survey (begun in 2001 and completed in Jan. 2010) in all 23 districts has revealed almost 55,000 acres or 40% of land has been encroached upon by politicians and their accomplices,” a top Wakf Board official told TOI.
The report submitted to the Wakf Board through the government by survey commissioner Mohammed Miah shows that almost 60% of wakf land in Hyderabad and 55% in Ranga Reddy are no longer with the board. “In Hyderabad, the land encroached upon is mostly in the Old City. The other districts with major encroachments are Guntur, Kurnool, Medak and Visakhapatnam,” the official said.
Wakf means setting aside property for causes which could either be religious — like taking care of a mosque — or social — like helping widows or orphans. The income from wakf property cannot be used for any purpose other than specified by the ‘wakif’ or endower. And it’s the Wakf Board that acts as custodian of land donated by the well-to-do from the community.
Despite encroachments, the second survey showed that the land under the board’s has risen to 1.67 lakh acres from 1.33 lakh acres in the first survey. But there’s a catch. “The second survey has come up with more properties because it gave more attention to the identification process. But most new properties identified lack reconciliation with the revenue records,” said a wakf official.
The second survey also listed the modus operandi of encroachers. “They tamper with land records and get it registered in their name or as benamis. Not only revenue officials but Board inspectors are also involved,” the official said.
The Wakf Board’s last chairman was former senior cop Ilyas Saith who was the late CM YSR’s nominee. Saith eventually resigned, allegedly due to political interference. At one point, a source said, Saith was threatened by an MLA from Guntur who barged into his chamber with a posse of cronies and sought changes in the Wakf committee in Krishna district.
Saith was even abused by a minister from the district, the source said. Saith finally quit after the powers that be failed to act on his complaint.
The board remains headless since.
 Add as favourites (23) |  Quote this article on your site | Views: 92
Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved |
