J&K says Himachal Pradesh, Punjab occupying its land

SRINAGAR: Pakistani shelling and Chinese incursions are not the only two issues that J&K is confronted with. The border state is facing music from sister states of Punjab and Himachal Pardesh too. The only difference is while external forces seek territorial gains for strategic reasons, those in neighborhood want the same to control resources.

Herdsmen from Himachal's LahulSpiti belt have encroached upon at least six kilometers of pastures envisaging some commercial space in Nyoma block. After lawmaker Nurboo Giachan raised a hue and cry in the house seeking demarcation of inter-state boundary in Sercho belt where boundaries of Kargil, Leh and Lahul meet, authorities took the issue seriously.

“They have encroached upon a good part of the territory,“ Nurboo told The ET. “There have been verbal duels between the two sides this summer as the Himachal encroachers are staking claim over the meadows and pastures.“ He said the area, if left unattended, could trigger a serious law and order crisis.

Revenue Ministry said they have asked the administration in Leh to take up the issue with the government in Shimla. “The issue of demarcation of boundary between Leh and Himachal Pardesh is being discussed between the district administrations of both the states to resolve the dispute,“ the state revenue secretary said.

But the more serious confrontation is taking place in Kathua, the gateway district bordering Punjab. On Saturday , district civil and police authorities forcibly removed the machinery of Punjab government in Basantpur where Ranjit Sagar Dam authorities started work on Shahpur Kandi barrage on Ravi without seeking permission from J&K government. After intruding nearly 3000 kanals of land (eight kanals make an acre), Punjab government had raised some constructions on more than 230 kanals of land.