In Salla village, located in the Palanpur taluka of Gujarat, a local resident has filed a petition in the High Court to remove encroachments on grazing land. The situation has caused panic among villagers, as about 250 homes are reportedly built on this land. The High Court’s order has prompted local authorities to conduct a site inspection and review records regarding the encroachments. This has led to anxiety among residents who fear their homes may be demolished.
Moti Bhai Mulchand Bhai Prajapati, the petitioner, claims that these encroachments need urgent attention. Following the High Court’s directive, a committee of six members, chaired by the SDM of Palanpur, has been formed to investigate the matter. Villagers, some of whom have lived in their homes for generations, are now worried they may lose their properties. Many of them possess land allotment certificates, but the local administration’s oversight has rendered their homes classified as encroachments on grazing land.
The issue has drawn attention from residents who have migrated to cities like Mumbai and Surat, returning to Salla village to provide proof of ownership for their plots. This situation has raised questions about the local administration’s accuracy in maintaining land records.
Concerns have grown as families who have lived in Salla for three generations now face the threat of losing their homes due to administrative errors. The villagers argue that if they are indeed encroaching on grazing land, how did they receive land allotment certificates in the first place? This has become a pressing question for them to present to the authorities.
The grazing land issue is not isolated to Salla village. Across Gujarat, similar problems exist where government land designated for grazing has been encroached upon. The state government has begun to address these encroachments, acknowledging the loss of grazing land due to industrial development and population growth. Recent reports suggest that approximately 9.53 lakh square meters of grazing land in Gandhinagar district alone have been encroached upon, with the Dhanera taluka experiencing the most significant encroachments.
In Salla village, the local administration’s error has resulted in a serious predicament for the residents. Many have built homes believing their land was legally allotted, only to discover that the records do not reflect this. This has led to widespread anxiety and uncertainty as the investigation unfolds. Residents are concerned that their long-term homes may be demolished without any compensation or alternative arrangements.
The local community is calling for a re-evaluation of the land records to prevent this crisis from escalating further. They urge the authorities to consider the historical context of their land ownership and the implications of sudden enforcement actions.
As the investigation continues, the villagers remain on edge, hoping for a resolution that will allow them to keep their homes. The High Court’s involvement highlights the seriousness of land encroachment issues in rural Gujarat and the need for proper management of grazing lands to protect both the environment and local communities.
The situation in Salla village serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding land management and the rights of rural residents in India. Moving forward, it will be essential for the local government to address these issues sensitively and effectively to prevent similar situations in the future.
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