Palamu’s 449 villages are under the lens of the revenue officials. In these villages, Gair Majrua (GM) land has been settled wrongfully in contravention of all rules and provisions. A number of GM land owners are rich and opulent.
According to statistics made available from the office of the Additional Collector (Revenue) Palamu in these 449 villages a total of 13,521.10 acres of GM land have been settled wrongfully with 4, 835 people.
Deputy Commissioner Palamu Ameet Kumar said, “Identification of wrongful settlement of GM land has been done as per the letter from the government. Action is on the anvil under section 4 (H) wherein such GM land owners are to explain reasonably and satisfactorily as to how GM land has been so settled in their names.”
Sources said a big racket is all set to be unfolded once the action starts in cases of wrongful settlement of GM land.
A land broker under condition of anonymity said in Chainpur, “There are cases where GM land has been sold too. This is all illegal. Under no condition any part/portion of GM land so settled can be sold. A GM land if settled legally and properly can be inherited generation down but it is not saleable.”
This broker further said wise GM land owner sensing trouble after the coming into effect the CNT Act about two years back are reaching a kind of agreement with land brokers by way of power of attorney and these brokers armed with power of attorney is dealing with disposal of GM land plots.
Palamu’s Chainpur is the most notorious block where 3,096.05 acres of GM land have been wrongfully settled read the official document in the office of the Addl Collector ( Revenue).
Sources said this block is in the closest of Daltonganj town and as such residents of town went on unscrupulous act in getting GM land settled in their names by all foul means.
A land broker told The Pioneer, “The major role in illegal settlement at GM land starts from the lowest level Rajswaya Karamchari who prepares false paper, inserts fake entry in register 2 and even issues mutation where in there is the whole process of getting mutation in which Ishtehaar is mandatory.” He further said the Karamachari then starts jama bandi too for which he accepts hefty sum of money from the party that lays hands on GM land.