Uttarakhand: Illegal structures on Waqf board’s land to be demolished, says its new President

New Delhi: In a major move to free the Waqf board land of illegal encroachments in Uttarakhand, its newly elected president Shadab Shams has said that all illegal structures on it will be demolished.

Shams was elected unopposed as the President of the 10-member Waqf board, a week ago. Speaking to media, Shams says that Waqf properties worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore across the state are illegally occupied and it must be freed from the clutches of mafia.

Bulldozers are likely to roll soon to raze the illegal structures & encroachments on Waqf board land across the state.

“Thousands of acres of Waqf land is illegally occupied in different parts of the state. We want to free our properties from the clutches of the mafia to make them useful for people they are really meant for,” Shams told newsmen.

Mincing no words, the newly appointed president said that Waqf board lands are not ‘dharamsaalas’ and they will be vacated soon, the notices for which have already started being served to concerned parties.

“The action will begin in Dehradun, where 14 bighas of Wakf land is occupied by Muslims from Aligarh. They came here to work in factories but built their houses. Around 200 families are settled here,” he said.

Shelter homes, skill centers to come up on Waqf land

Shams further said that going forward, the state Waqf board land will see momentum shift in its priorities. Progressive activities like developing shelter homes, coaching institutes and skill development centers will be the priority.

The Board also has plans of doing away with current religion based syllabus of madrassas and inculcating more of regular study with NCERT books.

“We want modern education to be imparted to children at the madrassas as in any other school. Uttarakhand Board syllabus will be introduced in about 103 madrassas being run by the Waqf Board and NCERT books will be taught there,” he said.

CCTV cameras will also be installed in madrassas across the state, to bring more transparency and record the activities.