– Raheem Khan
The Jaisalmer Municipal Council has reclaimed 29 bighas of land allegedly encroached upon by the Waqf Board. This action, taken on Wednesday, marks the first time such a large-scale operation has been conducted against Waqf Board in Jaisalmer district.
The JMC, under the Commissionership of Lajpal Singh Sodha, targeted land along Barmer Road. Supported by a strong police presence, including Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) forces, the team demolished boundary walls and other structures built on the disputed land. The encroached area, extending from Gadisar Lake to Govindsar Lake, had been under the control of Waqf Board for years, with the Board officially allotted only 18 bighas but reportedly occupying 47 bighas.
The land in question, categorized as “Gair Mumkin Aagor” in revenue records, falls under a restricted category, with both the Supreme Court and Rajasthan High Court imposing a ban on any construction. Despite this, various illegal structures were erected, prompting the Municipal Council to act.
This action followed multiple notices issued to the Waqf Board, which allegedly failed to vacate the land voluntarily. The Council’s bulldozer operation was the culmination of these warnings, resulting in the removal of encroachments, including makeshift constructions. The reclaimed land, reportedly worth crores of rupees, is now back under the Council’s control.
However, the Jaisalmer Muslims have expressed strong opposition to the JMC action. Community leaders, including former Pradhan Amardin Fakir and Waqf Board District President Nawabuddin Bhati, have condemned the move, accusing the administration of targeting the Waqf Board and damaging a graveyard in the process. Fakir and Bhati have claimed that the land in question was Waqf property as per the 1965 Gazette, and questioned the timing of the action, stating that the matter is still pending in the High Court.
Bhati has termed the operation “discriminatory and dictatorial,” accusing the JMC of bulldozing the land even before the court hearing. However, the Commissioner stated that the Waqf Board’s rightful land remains untouched and the operation was confined to removing encroachments beyond the designated Waqf land.
The Council’s action has resonated beyond Jaisalmer, with reactions pouring in from the state capital, Jaipur.
