Opposition BJP MLA, Vikram Randhawa, sparked controversy in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly by claiming that individuals from the Valley had illegally occupied land in Jammu city. Health Minister Sakina Itoo countered this by highlighting that 34 anti-encroachment drives since January 2025 had resulted in the recovery of 140 kanals and 11 marlas of land owned by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA).
Randhawa alleged that residents from the Valley had constructed settlements on JDA and government land in Jammu, criticizing the authorities for not addressing these encroachments. He specifically pointed out that a significant portion of these settlements belonged to individuals from the Kashmir valley.
In response, Sakina Itoo emphasized that encroachment issues should not be seen in a regional light, urging unity in Jammu and Kashmir. She mentioned measures taken to prevent future encroachments, including the installation of fencing and signboards, and the ongoing removal of illegal occupancies in Tehsil Bahu and Tehsil Jammu South.
The minister assured that strict actions were being taken against officials involved in land encroachment, with penalties such as warnings, departmental proceedings, suspensions, and red entries in service books. She stressed that accountability is enforced in accordance with the law, with due verification and adherence to prescribed procedures.
