26 sq-km bone of contention

UT Admn holds 6 meetings in a year, but forest officials left out
Chandigarh, January 7

The UT Administration seems to be least interested in resolving an inter-state dispute over a 26 sq-km patch of the eco-fragile Sukhna wildlife sanctuary area. The seriousness of the Administration can be gauged from the fact that in the last year, six meetings have been held, but the Administration has never invited officials of the forest and wildlife department, a major stakeholder of the area, to resolve the contentious issue.

This area, touching the boundaries of Punjab in Kansal village and Haryana in Saketri village, has witnessed haphazard constructions with land sharks eyeing the area. The Camelot project of TATA, which has been stayed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, was also coming up in the Kansal area.

Sources revealed that the officials of the departments of urban planning, architect, Deputy Commissioner’s office, legal wing and even representatives of Punjab and Haryana also attended the meetings, but not once were officials of the forest and wildlife department invited.

In response to a communication of the UT Chief Architect, the office of the Deputy Commissioner had requested the home department for a legal opinion on the status of the land to decide on future planning.

The DC’s office had submitted its report to the Administration, in which it was mentioned that though the ownership and possession of the land was with the UT, it fell under the revenue jurisdiction of Punjab and Haryana.

DC Brijendra Singh had sought legal opinion on land ownership. So far, the legal department has not submitted its report to the Administration.

The land was transferred to the UT on March 15, 1963, but fell outside the 114-sq km territory in the revenue records of the UT.

The UT area of 114 sq km does not include the 26 sq-km area of the Sukhna wildlife sanctuary and 2.17 sq km of Sector 1, where the Capitol Complex and Rajindra Park are located.

SUKHNA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Seeking extension: Due to a dispute over the area, the UT Administration has already decided to seek another extension of four to six months from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to complete the master plan. The court had fixed January 9 as deadline to complete it.