Rajasthan: Row over Central Park boundary wall

Construction of a boundary wall at Central park has triggered a protest. The wall is being constructed by Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) to mark boundary of the properties recently included in the park. However, those protesting against the wall allege that the officials have shifted the alignment to favour an adjoining private property.

“The wall is being constructed at least 10 feet inside the park, thus leaving park land on the other side at disposal of adjoining hotel,” says Yogesh Yadav, one of the petitioners in cases related to Central Park. 

“After our complaint to the urban development minister, the construction work has been put on hold, yet the authorities are not providing any explanation,” he added. 

The area under dispute is part of the land that was formerly part of Lilypool and stable.  The JDA after months of taking physical possession of the land has begin to remove encroachments in January. It has been following a public interest litigation by Yogesh Yadav in the month that Rajasthan high court ordered the JDA to get the encroachment removal works video-graphed and submit a compliance report. 

Alignment of the wall has yet again come to raise question on working of the authority, even as officials deny of favouritism allegations. 

“The wall is being built along the property boundary, we have duly mapped the area and the details of same have also been submitted at court,” says JDA zone commissioner Birbal Singh. However, he expressed ignorance if the work on construction of the wall continues to progress on the initial marking. 

As a new controversy has come to the fore regarding boundary wall, the issue of Central Park land is expected to remain sub-judice a little longer. It has been since acquisition by JDA in 1993 that the Central Park has been subject to legal compilation. 

Even as most of the property came under possession of JDA in 1995, part of it remains occupied by several individuals. 

It was finally in 2017 that supreme court upheld claim of the JDA on the remaining area. 

High Court Directive

The area under dispute is part of the land that was formerly part of Lilypool and stable.  The JDA after months of taking physical possession of the land has begin to remove encroachments in January. It has been following a public interest litigation by Yogesh Yadav in the month that Rajasthan high court ordered the JDA to get the encroachment removal works video-graphed and submit a compliance report.