Pilibhit: Uttar Pradesh principal secretary, revenue, Suresh Chandra has directed all commissioners and district magistrates (DMs) to ensure that “people belonging to poor, weaker and helpless sections of society are not harassed in the name of anti-land mafia drive”.“The state government is in receipt of certain information that the poor and helpless persons are being victimised in the name of identification of land mafias and their illegal fixed properties as well as removal of encroachments,” Chandra noted in a letter and ordered DMs to “restrict such acts in totality”.He directed the DMs to “probe such matters of harassment yourself whenever brought to your notice and to ensure stern action against the erring persons”.Meanwhile, terming the sports activities as means of consummate development of children and youths, Chandra in his second letter said “the availability of playground is utmost essential to promote the culture of sports” and directed the administrative authorities at the divisional and district level to ensure availability of a playground in every revenue village.For those villages which do not have a playground, the principal secretary instructed DMs to earmark a suitable piece of land in such villages and enter its title in revenue records to develop a standard playground.He further asked the administrative authorities to maintain play grounds in every revenue village measuring at least one acre. “Many playgrounds in revenue villages have either been encroached or they are not suitable for the sport activities. Such grounds be made free from encroachments and maintained in compatibility with needs of sports,” Chandra said.He asked the commissioners and DMs to ensure strict and literal compliance with the directions and send the compliance report on weekly basis from February 26 onwards.

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