Monday, 16 SEPTEMBER 2024 | SURENDRA PAL SINGH | UTTARKASHI
Differences in the information received under the Right To Information Act and the land documents submitted to the local administration have raised questions at the alleged role of local officials and politicians in facilitating encroachments in Uttarkashi. Locals point out that the Indira Colony area, at the foot of the landslide affected Varunavat mountain is a hub of encroachments and illegal constructions, including the said mosque.
Information received from the district administration in reply to an RTI application recently stated that the said mosque has been built illegally on government land. However, members of the Muslim community recently submitted land documents to the district administration, contending that the construction is legal. Citing the documents, they have contended that the mosque has been built without violation of the rules. Locals have questioned the contradiction in the information received under the RTI Act and the documentation provided by those supporting the mosque. Local residents and activists in Uttarkashi allege that the local government employees and politicians have facilitated various illegal constructions. They have questioned the function of the municipal and departmental officials while stating that the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been stressing on zero tolerance for corruption. It is pertinent to mention here that various Hindua organisations and local residents had recently taken out a protest rally against the mosque they alleged had been constructed illegally in Uttarkashi. The locals have also expressed concern about considerable demographic change in the region. The State government has also repeatedly claimed that it is concerned about demographic changes, but locals point out the authorities have not taken necessary action to prevent aspects like demographic changes and illegal constructions. Recent incidents in various parts of the State have further elicited strong opposition from the public to demographic changes, which they state are altering the very character of the State and also resulting in a rise in crimes.
The locals here point out that following High Court orders, the State government had demolished encroachments on government land before the Lok Sabha election. This affected the livelihoods of many people but the public in general had supported the anti-encroachment drive. It remains to be seen whether the authorities act against encroachments in Uttarkashi effectively.
