Governor Kataria backs rights to farmers tilling govt land

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Tuesday said he would take up with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann the issue of granting proprietary rights to farmers cultivating government land along the India-Pakistan border.

Backing the demand, Kataria said he would strive for a permanent solution to the problem so that such farmers could be given compensation after suffering losses in a natural calamity.

The Governor said this during a visit to flood-affected villages.

He also held a meeting with senior officials at MES Inspection Bungalow, where he had arrived last night to discuss the flood situation and efforts being made to help the needy.

The Governor visited the India-Pakistan Joint Check Post at Hussainiwala, which has been completely submerged and met affected families.

Several farmers living in border told Kataria that they had been cultivating government land for the last several decades.

They said earlier the “girdawari” (land cultivation record) was in their name, which was cancelled and their names removed from the revenue records due to which they were deprived of the compensation.

Many farmers said that they faced similar situation in 2023 also but were not given any compensation till date.