Health minister Pangnyu warns encroachers of legal action
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Oct. 15: Following his assurance to tackle the land encroachment issue plaguing District Hospital Dimapur, minister for Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom on Monday alleged the Dimapur district administration has issued rampant illegal land patta to individuals without the knowledge or approval from the government and department concerned.
Phom made this remark during a meeting with the deputy commissioner of Dimapur Sushil Kumar Patil, additional deputy commissioner, revenue officer and other officers at the DC’s office. Reporters were allowed to attend the meeting.
In an RTI reply, dated July 9, 2018, to an application filed by the Naga Council Dimapur on June 6, 2016, it was mentioned that out of the nine illegal encroachers of government land inside the hospital compound, four were listed as cancelled while there were no record for three land patta; two of the land patta holders were said to have been ‘regularised’ on deputy commissioner’s order.
Asserting that 'the illegal patta obtained by the department officials without any objection were issued by the Revenue Office', Phom made clear in no uncertain terms that 'those who have issued the patta will be prosecuted and those involved will be punished by the government.’
"My question is, without proper verification why was the land patta, which belongs to the hospital authority, was issued by the Revenue Office," queried Phom.
In a letter submitted to the DC, Phom requested the district administration to examine the matter and cancel all ‘illegal land patta’ issued against the hospital land immediately and impose a total ban on further issuing of land patta against the said land.
"The DHD being the healthcare hub for the Nagas and the neighbouring states, to protect the integrity of the patients (sic) is the responsibility of the government and the citizens. However such illegal activity is hampering progress of the hospital,” he said.
In response, the DC said that for the last two-three years, the district administration has not issued any land patta. Also, he maintained that allotment of government land to private parties was banned in 2005.
