Encroachments galore in Nurpur town as authorities turn blind eye

Encroachments on government land and unauthorised construction activities are rising unchecked in Nurpur, with the authorities concerned accused of failing to take action against offenders. Residents allege that both the Municipal Council (MC) and the Revenue Department have turned a blind eye, allowing the practice to flourish without fear of penalty.

Encroachers have reportedly occupied government land across the MC area and erected structures without obtaining mandatory approval of building plans. The situation has worsened since a notification issued during the previous Jairam-led government removed the requirement for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the MC for obtaining water and electricity connections. The removal of the requirement for an NOC, once considered a deterrent to illegal construction, has effectively enabled violators to secure basic utilities for unauthorised buildings.

The Revenue Department has been criticised for inaction, too. Officials are said to be either overburdened or indifferent, resulting in the absence of any effective mechanism to curb encroachments. This has emboldened offenders, who continue to occupy land in a phased manner.

The issue is widespread across all nine wards of the town, with the highest number of encroachments reported in Wards 3, 5, 6 and 9. Several cases date back to the period before the last Lok Sabha elections, particularly in Wards 5 and 6, when large tracts of government land were allegedly grabbed without any subsequent enforcement action.

Residents claim that political patronage has further fuelled the problem, with local leaders accused of encouraging encroachments to support their voter base. The lack of accountability has left law-abiding citizens disillusioned, especially those who followed due process and obtained approvals before construction.

Adding to these concerns, a new trend has emerged in which encroachers are reportedly selling possession rights of illegally occupied government land. This has triggered resentment among residents who invested time and resources to comply with legal requirements.

Responding to the issue, the Executive Officer of the Nurpur MC stated that action was taken when complaints were received regarding unauthorised construction on privately owned land. The officials added that notices were issued and penalties were imposed where violations were found. However, residents argue that such measures are insufficient and fail to address the broader problem of large-scale encroachments on government land.