Jammu, March 31 -- Roughly over 21 lakh kanals (1,06,230 hectares) of state land and forest land remains encroached across Jammu and Kashmir, with Rajouri district recording the highest extent of illegal state land of 2,73,848 kanals, and 12 marlas under illegal occupation, stated a government document tabled in the J&K egislative assembly here on Monday. In a written reply to a question by BJP MLA Shakti Raj Parihar on illegal occupation of state and forest land, the government stated that 17,22,995 kanal and 10 marla (over 87,158 hectares) of state land remains encroached across the UT. Similarly, over 3,77,000 kanals of forest land remains under illegal occupation in various districts of J&K. "Any fresh attempt at encroached or illegal cultivation is promptly detected and effectively taken off at the initial stage. Forest boundaries are being re-surveyed by using DGPS technology to ensure accurate identification of encroachments," the government stated in its reply. The reply further stated that the field staff maintained regular vigil over vulnerable areas to prevent fresh encroachments. "Awareness campaigns are being carried out in adjoining forest villages to educate communities on the importance of forest conservation and their role in protecting these vital resources," it added. The government informed the House that all recorded entries of encroachment in revenue records have been expunged and necessary steps have been taken for removal of such encroachments in accordance with provisions of Section 133 of the Land Revenue Act, 1996. "Eviction drives are also being conducted and general awareness campaign programmes are also being organised," it stated. Revenue department figures shared in the House showed that Rajouri accounts for the largest chunk of encroached state land at over 2.73 lakh kanals, followed by Reasi with more than 2.26 lakh kanals and Jammu district with over 1.45 lakh kanals. "While entries of unauthorised occupation have been expunged from revenue records, the physical possession of land in many cases remains with encroachers, necessitating continued eviction drives," stated the government reply. The government said eviction proceedings are being carried out under the provisions of the Land Revenue Act, with notices issued and periodic drives conducted to reclaim encroached land. Joint operations involving the forest department, forest protection force and police are also underway to clear forest land. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para on Monday reiterated party's stand on regularisation of nearly one lakh daily wagers and described it a "humanitarian issue". Talking to reporters outside the legislative assembly complex here, Para said, "Daily wagers, need based and ad-hoc workers are around one lakh, who run our essential services in Jammu and Kashmir. If our officers get paid in lakhs then why can't these daily wagers be regularised, who run our essential services 24x7." Para recalled that during Mehbooba Mufti's government around one lakh daily wagers were identified and an SRO was issued while bio-metrics of 60,000 were done. "Either the same SRO be brought back and nearly one lakh daily wagers will get regularised automatically. If every party has promised their regularisation then irrespective of party lines they should be regularised in a phased manner," he added. "This is not merely an issue of employment or regularisation, it is a humanitarian concern. These workers have been serving for decades, yet many of them are denied recognition and security," he said. Para urged all political parties to rise above differences and initiate a phased process for regularisation. "After serving for two to three decades, we tell them that they are not our employees. It amounts to betrayal of worst kind. The government handle them with compassion and ensure justice to them," he said. Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly on Monday rejected via voice vote a private member's bill by a BJP MLA for the protection and restoration of temples, including those encroached during Pak sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary stated that sufficient safeguards were in place. "Jammu and Kashmir's strength lies in its tradition of communal harmony and equal respect for all religions. Successive government including the present dispensation headed by chief minister Omar Abdullah ensured protection of all religious places, be they temples, mosques, gurdwaras and churches," said Choudhary. BJP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia introduced the Bill and sought "to provide for the protection of temples and retrieval of illegally occupied land in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir". CM Omar, who was in the assembly, stood up to say that he was opposing the Bill. However, Mankotia defended the bill on the grounds that it sought to institutionalise safeguards for the preservation and restoration of damaged temples, particularly those affected during thepeak of terrorism in theValley, where large-scale displacement left religious sites vulnerable to encroachment and destruction. When the deputy chief minister rose to reply on behalf of the government, Mankotia initially objected, insisting that the chief minister should respond as he had opposedthe Bill, but later relented following the Speaker's intervention. "No religion or community has the right to encroach upon any sacred place of another, and no government has ever permitted such actions. This is the true essence and beauty of Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, I do not believe there is a need for this Bill," Choudhary said. He said the government remains committed not just to protecting temples, but all religious places. "If any encroachment has occurred, strict action will be taken." A total of nine private members' bills were tabled in the House on Monday, out of which majority of them were withdrawn while one moved by BJP MLA Pawan Kumar Gupta was deferred to Wednesday for discussion. Gupta has moved a bill to seek compassionate appointment to next of kin of deceased government employees, security personnel and civilians affected by militancy or enemy action....