JALALABAD (Pajhwok): At least 3,000 acres of land close to the irrigation department in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, is occupied by grabbers, officials said on Tuesday.
Senior officials and other influential elements have been involved in occupying the state land. Eng. Ziarat Gul Rahil, director of irrigation, acknowledged thousands of acres of government property had been occupied.
But the authorities have been unable to vacate the land. “We have made repeated attempts to evict the grabbers but could not succeed,” he said. He asked the central government to direct the authorities concerned to help retake the land.
Calling the occupation of state land a major issue, provincial council members also demanded the government adopt a strict policy against usurpers.
Dr. Nasir Kamawal, deputy head of the provincial council, regretted government-owned land was being occupied on a daily basis. An effective plan was needed to prosecute the perpetrators, he believed.
rm/mud
