Telangana State Wakf Board braces to protect properties from usurpers

Nampally: TSWB (Telangana State Wakf Board) held an emergency meeting with Deputy Collector, Tahsildar, Land Acquisition officer, Surveyor officials to discuss the modalities towards recovering and protecting Wakf lands which were encroached upon by land sharks across the city by producing fake documents and misleading registration department and courts.

A meeting chaired by Chairman of TSWB Md Saleem discussed issues related to the Wakf lands. In this endeavour, TSWB decided to write to District Collectors and mandal revenue officers to ensure that Wakf properties are identified before being claimed and registered as private properties.

Speaking to media persons, Md Saleem said that more than 6 acres of Wakf land located close to rearside fence of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Balapur (near Rohingya camp) remained amongst the top priorities of the Board. Efforts would be made to free the land from encroachers through all legal means. "Serious action will be taken against illegal occupants for claiming Wakf land as private land by producing fake documents, and this case will also be transferred to CB-CID," he noted.

The Wakf Board head said that DRDO was showing keen interest on acquiring the land chuck as it abuts its facility, for a research centre. "We have received a letter from the land acquisition office that the DRDL authorities are willing to acquire the land, therefore, we discussed the process of acquisition of land," he said.

Saleem also said that during the 2-hour long meeting they discussed about the Wakf lands which were on the verge of being encroached. "A letter will also be submitted to Commissioner & Inspector General of Registration and Stamps Office regarding the illegal possession of all the Wakf lands across the State," he added.