GOVERNMENT LAND SEIZED IN THE NAMES OF VIPs

GOVERNMENT LAND SEIZED IN THE NAMES OF VIPs

2-NOV-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-----------------------Of the 1,024 acres of land acquired by the Bihar State Housing Board, only 58 acres remain, scattered in isolated patches. A team of Assistant Engineers from the Bihar State Housing Board is working tirelessly to protect this vacant, abandoned land; yet, clandestine illegal construction continues unabated. In reality, whenever officials attempt to enforce strict measures, the land-grabbing "mafia" and the contractors they employ respond with threats, claiming that the land is backed by judges, DSPs, or inspectors—even going so far as to suggest that one should "speak to them" directly. At times, illegal construction and land seizures are carried out by invoking the names of ministers, MLAs, influential figures, and even journalists. On Sunday, a team of Assistant Engineers discovered that 15 kathas of land in Yadav Gali, located behind CP Shukla Road in Digha, had been enclosed by a permanent boundary wall. Inquiries with local residents revealed the involvement of several powerful individuals. Led by an Assistant Engineer, the team demolished the boundary wall—though the extent of what could be dismantled by hand was limited. The Assistant Engineer and Digha police officials learned that the illegal construction had been underway since October 30.

Between 1972 and 1976, 1,024 acres of land were acquired for urban housing development. The Supreme Court upheld the validity of this acquisition. Despite this, the land continued to be bought, sold, and seized. By mid-2022, only 350 acres remained vacant. A recent survey revealed only 58 acres of vacant land, whereas the government required 80 acres to accommodate offices for various institutions. A site measuring 90 feet had initially been selected for the Narcotics office; however, due to encroachment, an alternative plot—located in front of the SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) facility—was identified and secured for the Narcotics office instead. Regarding the remaining 58 acres, various factions are in conflict, with multiple claimants vying for the same plots, thereby creating law-and-order issues. Consequently, 90% of the land is currently under dispute.

Individuals have lodged complaints with the Bihar State Housing Board, claiming that land acquired by the Board actually belongs to them and is being encroached upon. The Housing Board officials reject these claims and, upon receiving such information, initiate appropriate action. In this regard, the Chief Secretary has written to the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development and Housing Department (vide reference number 6074, dated October 29, 2026), directing them to take action on each specific point.

A complaint was filed via the 'Sahyog' portal stating that a cattle shed (*khatal*) had been set up on government land, with a request for its removal. Following a notice issued by the Executive Engineer, the cattle shed was cleared. Subsequently, conflicts arose between various groups attempting to seize the government land. On October 21, 2026, a journalist notified the Managing Director, Chief Engineer, Executive Engineer, and all Assistant Engineers of the Housing Board, as well as the local DSP and the Station House Officer (SHO). The ASP directed the SHO to take action; however, illegal construction would resume as soon as the police patrol departed. After a news portal and a newspaper reported on the matter, an Assistant Engineer from the Bihar State Housing Board filed an FIR at the Rajiv Nagar Police Station against unknown persons for the illegal occupation of the land previously occupied by the cattle shed. The identity of those attempting to seize this land could potentially be revealed through nearby CCTV footage. According to the police, an extortion case has come to light, linked to a dispute over the encroachment of land used for a cattle shed (*khatal*). Four miscreants have been arrested in connection with this. The police have also recovered illegal weapons and four mobile phones. The calls made from these recovered phones could provide significant leads and potentially expose several other individuals.