Prayagraj Land Dispute: Municipal Corporation Stakes Claim on Jhunsi Defence Land Amid Eviction Drive
Prayagraj: A fresh dispute over land ownership is quietly taking shape in Jhunsi, a locality in Prayagraj, where administrative lines between civic authorities and defence estates appear to be blurring.
The issue revolves around nearly 75 acres of land currently under the control of the Defence Estate Office.
While the office has already initiated steps to clear alleged encroachments from the land, the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation has now stepped in, indicating that it too may have a rightful claim over a significant portion of this area.
Municipal Corporation Begins Document Review
Officials from the municipal corporation have begun scrutinising old land records to establish ownership.
Sources within the civic body suggest that around 50 acres of this land could potentially belong to the corporation.
A team led by Additional Municipal Commissioner Arvind Kumar Rai recently conducted a ground inspection of the disputed land.
The next step, officials say, will be to seek detailed records from the district administration—specifically, when and under what circumstances the land was transferred to the army.
Based on these findings, the municipal corporation is expected to formally raise its claim with the defence authorities.
Mayor Signals Strong Claim
Mayor Umesh Chandra Ganesh Kesarwani has publicly indicated that a substantial portion of the land in Jhunsi could belong to the municipal body. He has directed officials to carry out a thorough investigation and submit a detailed report.
His remarks suggest that the corporation is preparing to assert its position more firmly, depending on what the records reveal.
Defence Estate Office’s Position
On the other hand, the Defence Estate Office maintains that the land is under its jurisdiction. Last year, it had already begun the process of reclaiming the 75-acre plot by issuing notices to residents living there.
Nearly 99 houses built on the land were identified as unauthorised, and occupants were served notices. Officials are now preparing to take the next step—issuing final eviction notices to clear the area completely.
Responding to the municipal corporation’s claim, a defence estate official stated that about 25 acres of the land have been leased to the forest department, and existing records do not reflect any ownership by the municipal corporation.
However, the official acknowledged that the civic body is free to examine documents and present its case.
What Lies Ahead
The situation now hinges on historical land records and administrative clarity. If the municipal corporation’s claims find support in official documents, the dispute could evolve into a more complex legal and administrative matter.
For now, the focus remains on verification of ownership, of transfers, and of rights over land that has suddenly become the center of competing claims.
Meanwhile, for the families living on the land, uncertainty looms large as eviction proceedings continue alongside this emerging ownership dispute.
