Chief Minister Raman Singh said on Saturday that Waqf properties could be used in public welfare works in a better way by making a development scheme. He stressed on the need for completion of survey of Waqf properties.
Discussing with the State Waqf Board chairperson Mohammad Salim Ashrafi, who paid a courtesy visit to the chief minister at his residence here on Saturday, Singh said that efforts should be made to increase the income of Mosques by removing illegal occupation from Waqf properties.Ashrafi told the Chief Minister that the Waqf Board had registered 953 cases against encroachments on Masjid, Idgah, cemeteries, and agriculture land of the Board. 255-acre agriculture land of the board has been freed from encroachment and 40 illegal occupation of shops and buildings of Waqf property have been vacated and handed over to the Mutwalli Committee.
He said that the Board had made 60 per cent hike in the rent of Masjid, Idgah, cemetery, and Dargahs. As many as 20 appeal cases had been registered in the collector’s court at Bilaspur, he added.Similarly, 194 eviction cases in Sub Divisional Magistrate Raipur, Bilaspur and Jagadalpur; 15 mutation cases in Nazul office Bilaspur; 51 cases in Bilaspur High Court; 31 cases in Waqf Tribunal Raipur and total 48 cases in Civil Court Raipur and Bilaspur have been registered, on which action is being taken.
Ashrafi told the chief minister that illegal construction on Waqf properties is being identified. Proposal is there to construct shops, complex and community buildings on the vacant land to increase the income of Waqf. Through election, new committee has been constituted in Mosques.