Agri land near IT Park being misused

Ramkrishan Upadhyay
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 9

Despite a ban, commercial activities and construction of new structures on agricultural land near IT Park are going on with impunity. A huge chunk of over 250 acres of agricultural land is situated near IT Park, which was released from acquisition by the Supreme Court.

The UT Administration had acquired the land for the development of IT Park, Phase 3, but after a long legal battle, owners of the land won the case and got the land back in 2012. The owners had submitted that the land was being used only for farmhouses and agricultural purposes. According to the Periphery Control Act, which is in force in villages around the city, no construction and commercial activities are allowed on agricultural land.

However, the situation on the ground is different. While the UT has failed to keep an eye on the land, illegal construction is going on there. A large number of nurseries can be seen indulging in commercial activities there. A cricket ground has also come up on the land, which is being run by the Mahajan School of Cricket.

A board of the UT Cricket Association has also been installed near the banner of the Mahajan School of Cricket. Cricket matches are played regularly on this ground.

Subhash Mahajan, owner of Mahajan School of Cricket, said there was no illegal construction on the land and only the ground had been made. He said it was among the best cricket grounds in the area and he was not charging any fee for matches.

Arjun Sharma, Land Acquisition Officer, UT, said the Administration would look into the issue and if any illegal activities were found, action would be taken against the owners of the land.