Times of India: Agra: Sunday, 10 July 2022.
Over 57% of encroached land belonging to the Agra division of north-central railway is under illegal occupation of temples, revealed an RTI query filed by TOI. Mosques and tombs have illegally occupied 2.8% of the total encroachments.
The remaining encroachment is under occupation by individuals who have built residential spaces and other structures, said the office of the divisional railway manager in the RTI reply.
In terms of area, a total of 21,875 sqm land is encroached upon, of which over 13,233 sqm is under illegal occupation of places of worship or religious sites. Nearly 12,618 sqm is under various temples, 615 sqm is under tombs or mosques and the remaining 8,642 sqm has illegal residential houses and other structures.
Agra division railway covers 829.35 km of route spreading across 9 districts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. There are 15 extensive network sections and 92 railway stations under Agra division.
A railway official, on condition of anonymity, said, “Not just Agra division, a majority of encroachments across north central railway are religious sites. Illegal constructions on railway property for example, a temple on the platform at Raja-ki-Mandi railway station in Agra city violate safety norms and significantly affect standard operations. With hardly any help from the state government and the local administration, railway authorities also avoid taking legal action against illegally developed religious sites.”
On April 12, the divisional railway manager issued a notice saying “if the Chamunda temple located at Rajamandi railway station is not removed, the railway station will be shut. The notice mentioned that the illegally constructed religious site is violating the “schedule of dimension”. DRM Anand Swarup said, “If the illegal construction of 72 sqm temple is not removed from the platform, the railway station can be closed in view of the safety of passengers.’’
Following the notice, right-wing groups held a prayer ceremony, reciting Hanuman Chalisa and performing havan at the platform to contest the decision. A protest was also held at the DRM office.
The railway authorities had given 10 days to the management committee to displace the temple. Later, the district administration ordered that “both parties must reach a decision amicably before any action is taken.”
In 2019, the then minister of railways in a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha stated that out of 4.78 lakh hectare land available with Indian Railways, approximately 821.46 hectare (0.17%) is under encroachment.
The response mentioned, “Railways carry out regular surveys for identifying encroachments and take action for their removal. If the encroachments are of temporary nature (soft encroachments) in the shape of jhuggies, jhopris and squatters, the same are removed in consultation with and the assistance of Railway Protection Force and local civil authorities. For old encroachments, where a party is not amenable to persuasion, action is taken under Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971 (PPE Act, 1971), as amended from time to time. Actual eviction of unauthorized occupants is carried out with the assistance of state Government and police”.
Over 57% of encroached land belonging to the Agra division of north-central railway is under illegal occupation of temples, revealed an RTI query filed by TOI. Mosques and tombs have illegally occupied 2.8% of the total encroachments.
The remaining encroachment is under occupation by individuals who have built residential spaces and other structures, said the office of the divisional railway manager in the RTI reply.
In terms of area, a total of 21,875 sqm land is encroached upon, of which over 13,233 sqm is under illegal occupation of places of worship or religious sites. Nearly 12,618 sqm is under various temples, 615 sqm is under tombs or mosques and the remaining 8,642 sqm has illegal residential houses and other structures.
Agra division railway covers 829.35 km of route spreading across 9 districts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. There are 15 extensive network sections and 92 railway stations under Agra division.
A railway official, on condition of anonymity, said, “Not just Agra division, a majority of encroachments across north central railway are religious sites. Illegal constructions on railway property for example, a temple on the platform at Raja-ki-Mandi railway station in Agra city violate safety norms and significantly affect standard operations. With hardly any help from the state government and the local administration, railway authorities also avoid taking legal action against illegally developed religious sites.”
On April 12, the divisional railway manager issued a notice saying “if the Chamunda temple located at Rajamandi railway station is not removed, the railway station will be shut. The notice mentioned that the illegally constructed religious site is violating the “schedule of dimension”. DRM Anand Swarup said, “If the illegal construction of 72 sqm temple is not removed from the platform, the railway station can be closed in view of the safety of passengers.’’
Following the notice, right-wing groups held a prayer ceremony, reciting Hanuman Chalisa and performing havan at the platform to contest the decision. A protest was also held at the DRM office.
The railway authorities had given 10 days to the management committee to displace the temple. Later, the district administration ordered that “both parties must reach a decision amicably before any action is taken.”
In 2019, the then minister of railways in a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha stated that out of 4.78 lakh hectare land available with Indian Railways, approximately 821.46 hectare (0.17%) is under encroachment.
The response mentioned, “Railways carry out regular surveys for identifying encroachments and take action for their removal. If the encroachments are of temporary nature (soft encroachments) in the shape of jhuggies, jhopris and squatters, the same are removed in consultation with and the assistance of Railway Protection Force and local civil authorities. For old encroachments, where a party is not amenable to persuasion, action is taken under Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971 (PPE Act, 1971), as amended from time to time. Actual eviction of unauthorized occupants is carried out with the assistance of state Government and police”.
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