Jammu, April 4 The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said that 256 illegal occupants have been identified along the flood plains of the Tawi River in the Nikki Tawi area of Jammu district, with encroachments covering 328 kanals and 15 marlas of prime land.
Often described as the “oxygen chamber” of Jammu for its lush green cover, Nikki Tawi, nestled between two channels of the Tawi River and spread across more than 5,000 kanals of prime land, is increasingly coming under pressure from illegal constructions triggered by large-scale encroachments.
Responding to a question raised by BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa in the Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the details were submitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in connection with an ongoing case concerning alleged environmental degradation of the river.
According to the official reply, the divisional commissioner of Jammu, through communications dated March 23 and 30 and April 1, 2026, in connection with the issue, is currently pending before the NGT in New Delhi, and is listed for hearing on April 24, 2026.
The deputy commissioner has submitted details of encroachments on the river’s flood plains before the tribunal, identifying 256 illegal occupants under certain khasra numbers, he said.
"As reported by the deputy commissioner, 256 illegal occupants have been found on the spot along the Tawi River under alleged khasra numbers in Nikki Tawi. The entries, however, are not recorded in revenue records", the chief minister said.
He said that the quantum of land encroached is 328 Kanals 15 Marla. "Further, during flash floods, 17 houses were fully washed away, and no loss of human life has been reported".
It added that the matter will be examined in accordance with directions issued by the NGT.
On the impact of such encroachments, the government informed that during recent flash floods, 17 houses were completely washed away, though no loss of human life was reported.