Distt Admin hears 190 grievances during public hearing; action ordered in land grab cases

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 2 Feb: As per the directions of District Magistrate Savin Bansal, a public hearing was organised today at the Collectorate premises under the chairmanship of ADM (Finance and Revenue) KK Mishra, during which a large number of people arrived in the hope of redressal of their grievances. A total of 190 complaints and problems related to land disputes, illegal occupation, demarcation, encroachment, assault, maintenance, disaster compensation, financial assistance and social security were registered. Most of the complaints were resolved on the spot, while the remaining cases were forwarded to the departments with directions to ensure prompt and lawful action.
The public hearing witnessed deeply moving accounts of human suffering, injustice and social insensitivity. Destitute, helpless and aggrieved citizens placed their woes before the administration, on which immediate cognisance was taken and concerned officers were directed to initiate necessary legal and administrative action.
Eighty-year-old destitute widow Kanta Devi, with tears in her eyes, narrated her plight, stating that both her sons had thrown her out of the house and were not even allowing her to construct a hut on her own land. Taking the matter seriously, the ADM directed the SDM Sadar to file a case under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act and ensure appropriate legal action.
Similarly, 85-year-old widow Kamla Devi from Doiwala and widow Pushpa Devi from Chandrabani complained that their sons and daughters-in-law had assaulted them, expelled them from their homes and got their properties transferred in their own names. In both cases, directions were issued to register proceedings under the Maintenance Act.
Uma Devi, a resident of Kanwali, alleged that her husband and in-laws had deprived her and her children of their rightful share in the property and demanded that the property be registered in the names of her children. The officers concerned were directed to examine the matter and take necessary action.
In another case, a person who underwent a kidney stone operation at a private hospital and subsequently developed an infection complained that the hospital management was not paying attention to his condition and that even his relatives had abandoned him in his hour of distress. Considering the seriousness of the situation, the CMO was directed to ensure proper treatment at a government hospital.
Doiwala resident 56-year-old widow Sunita Devi reached the hearing along with her minor daughter and informed that she had sold one bigha of land in Doiwala for the treatment of her cancer-afflicted husband. After her husband’s death, the concerned individual allegedly encroached upon her entire remaining land. In this case, the SDM and Circle Officer were directed to conduct an inquiry and restore possession of the land to the victim.
Eighty-five-year-old Vikram Singh from Uddiwala complained of illegal occupation on his ancestral private land, while Dilwar Singh from Bhauwala demanded removal of encroachment from his private land. In addition, strict action was ordered on complaints of illegal occupation on Gram Sabha land in village Bhitarli.
Vikas Kumar from Sahastradhara, citing financial distress in the family, made a humble appeal for waiver of his child’s school fee, on which the concerned department was instructed to examine the case sympathetically and take an appropriate decision.
During the public hearing, villagers from the Koti Kanasar area raised complaints regarding damage to the boundary wall of a Government Girls Inter College due to a natural disaster, repair of a culvert in the Jothin area, and failure to carry out protective works beneath residential buildings damaged due to excessive rainfall. The concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrate was directed to conduct a site inspection and submit a report.
Pyarelal from Laltappar Majrigrant demanded compensation for land and building acquired for National Highway-07 as per the prevailing circle rate, for which the department concerned was instructed to take action in accordance with rules.
On a complaint regarding blockage of roadside drains from DL Road Chowk to Nalapani Road up to Rispana due to gravel and sludge, leading to accumulation of dirty water on roads, dampness in residential walls and adverse impact on public health, the Deputy Municipal Commissioner was directed to ensure immediate cleaning of the drains.
Similarly, on a complaint of illegal encroachment on government land in Shivaya Enclave Society, located at Dhoran Khas on Sahastradhara Road, the MDDA was directed to conduct an inquiry and ensure removal of the encroachment.
SDM Apoorva Singh, SDM Vinod Kumar, District Development Officer Sunil Kumar, Chief Education Officer VK Dhauliyal, District Programme Officer Jitendra Kumar and other district-level officers from various departments were present during the public hearing.