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Sidhra

Coordinates: 32°46′N 74°53′E / 32.76°N 74.89°E / 32.76; 74.89
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Sidhra
Town
Tawi River as seen from Sidhra
Tawi River as seen from Sidhra
Sidhra is located in Jammu and Kashmir
Sidhra
Sidhra
Coordinates: 32°46′N 74°53′E / 32.76°N 74.89°E / 32.76; 74.89
Country India
Union TerritoryJammu and Kashmir
DistrictJammu
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyJammu Municipal Corporation
Elevation
400 m (1,300 ft)
Population
[1]
 • Total
≈3,000–5,000
Languages
 • OfficialHindi, Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri
 • Spoken[2]Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi, Gojri
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationJK02

Sidhra is a town and municipality in the city of Jammu in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Geography

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Sidhra is located on the foothills of the Shivalik Hills and is situated on the banks of the Tawi River. Jammu–Srinagar National Highway or NH-44 goes through this town. The Tawi Bridge connects it with Old City, while the highway from the opposite direction connects it with the new city.

Demographics

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Sidhra has mixed demography, where people from Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and Sikh community have lived peacefully. People from across J&K and Ladakh have settled in Sidhra. Many people from Kashmir Valley & District Reasi have settled here because of unrest in the valley, whereas others from Chenab valley and other far-flung areas of Jammu Division have settled here for better environment, educational facilities and infrastructure available in Jammu city. People from Jammu as well have moved into suburban areas like Sidhra. Some Kashmiri & Ladakhis have made this area their second home or winter home. They settle here for six months during winters and go back during summers.[3]

As of date, there is no official census available to ascertain the religious distribution of population of Sidhra.

Illegal Settlements

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Over the years, people from Kashmir, Chenab Valley, Poonch and Rajouri districts have settled in Sidhra on the outskirts of Jammu, as part of land allocations under Roshni Act. Inasmuch as it provided better opportunities of education and other facilities, it also led to accusations of change in existing demographics[4] in the region, with the claim that 90% of the beneficiaries being from Muslim community.[5][6] Questions were raised on the legality of land granted under Roshni Act. After a campaign by Ikkjutt Jammu to highlight the alleged grab[7] of forest land under Roshni Act, in 2018, the then governor of erstwhile state J&K Mr. Satya Pal Malik repealed the act on the grounds that it had failed to realize the desired objectives and there were also reports of misuse of some its provisions.[8]

On 9 October 2020, a division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal held in its judgement that the Roshni Act was completely unconstitutional, contrary to law and unsustainable,[9] thereby declaring all land allocations done under it as null and void.[10] The court declared all transfers of land done even before the repeal of Roshni Act are invalid,[11] holding that J&K State Land Act 2001[12] (vesting of ownership to Occupants) was void ab initio from its very inception, thus rendering the settlements in Bathindi, Sunjawan, Sidhra and elsewhere under Roshni Act as illegal.[13] Further, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on 9 October 2020 ordered a CBI probe in the Roshni land scam case, stating it to be the biggest ever in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, and allegedly involving a loss of Rs 25,000-Crores for the State exchequer.[14][15]

Sri Venkateswara Balaji Temple

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The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has constructed Sri Venkateswara Balaji Temple in Majeen area of Sidhra[16] in Jammu, making it the sixth[17] Balaji temple constructed outside Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It cost Rs 30 crore[18] to construct the temple and it was completed in a period of two years. The temple was inaugurated by Lieutenant governor of J&K Manoj Sinha, Union ministers Dr Jitendra Singh and G Kishen Reddy on 8 June 2023.[19] The temple is spread over 62 acres[20] of land, making it one of the largest temples in the Jammu region. Temple falls on the route[21] between Jammu and Katra, where Mata Vaishno Devi temple is located and is expected to boost religious tourism[22] in the region. The temple has been crafted in a Dravidian architectural style and showcases influences of the ancient Chola dynasty.[23] The next phase of development is expected to include Kalyana Mandapam, Veda Patashala and a health center.[24][25]

Major colonies and settlements

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Sidhra comes under Ward No.71 of Jammu Municipal Corporation. It falls under the Jammu east constituency replacing the Nagrota constituency. Tawi Vihar is the most developed Colony of Sidhra and home to bureaucrats, ministers and other high-ranking officials of J&K. It provides the residents with good electricity facilities, provisional store and greenery. The colony also has well lit roads and ample parks for leisure and exercise. The colony houses many people from Srinagar and Ladakh and is connected with the highway as well as the old city. Asrarabad is the most populated colony of Sidhra but lacks maintained roads and other basic facilities.[3] Following are some colonies of Sidhra.

1.Tawi Vihar Colony

2.Jamwal Enclave

3.Lakshman Singh Jamwal Lane

4.Chinar Enclave

5.Shivram Enclave

6.Nehar Colony

7.Asrarabad Colony

8.Umar colony

9.Rajput Mohalla

10.Bhagat Singh Jamwal Marg

11.Major Raghunath Singh Marg

12.Manhas Mohalla

13.Majheen

14.Rangoora

15.Ramdasia mohalla

16.Ram Singh Enclave

17.Green Enclave

18.Bhagwati lane

19.Peerbagh Enclave

20.Gulshan Nagar

21.Dwara

22.Nikki mohalla

23.Waliabad mohalla

24.Hari Singh Nagar (chib mohalla)

References

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  1. ^ "Village and Town Wise Primary Census Abstract". 2011 Census of India. Government of India. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. ^ Yasir, Sameer (24 April 2018). "Kathua rape puts Sidhra, one of few remaining Muslim settlements in Jammu, at focal point of communal rift". Firstpost.
  3. ^ Yasir, Sameer (24 April 2018). "Kathua rape puts Sidhra, one of few remaining Muslim settlements in Jammu, at focal point of communal rift". Firstpost.
  4. ^ "IkkJutt Jammu releases findings of its 'Commission on Demographic Change'". Daily Excelsior. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  5. ^ Padha, Sachin (16 March 2020). "J&K's Roshni act is the tool misused by politicians to change Jammu demography". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  6. ^ Joshi, Swati (22 June 2022). "How Roshni Became Dark in Kashmir". Kashmir Observer. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  7. ^ Sharma, Gopal (9 May 2015). "Over 1200 kanals retrieved Forest, JDA land at Sidhra Golf Course re-grabbed". Daily Excelsior. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  8. ^ Sharma, Arun (3 December 2018). "J&K Roshni Act: what it aimed to do, what happened until it was repealed". Indian Express. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  9. ^ Dar, Javed (19 December 2020). "Roshni Act : Unconstitutional, Contrary to law, and Unsustainable". Brighter kashmir. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  10. ^ Bhat, Sunil (4 November 2020). "J&K administration declares Roshni Act as 'null and void'". India Today. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  11. ^ Sharma, Arun (14 October 2020). "'Loot to own': J&K High Court hands Rs 25,000 crore land scam probe to CBI". Indian Express. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  12. ^ "THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE LANDS (VESTING OF OWNERSHIP TO THE OCCUPANTS) ACT, 2001" (PDF).
  13. ^ Khajuria, Ravi Krishnan (2 November 2020). "Roshni land scam: CAG report was trigger behind petition, says HC lawyer". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Rs 25000 Crore Roshni Land Scam handed over to CBI". The Straight Line. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  15. ^ Dar, Mohsin (12 October 2020). "Roshni Act has worked to facilitate illegal vesting of State lands: J&K HC while ordering CBI probe into Roshni Land scam". Bar and Bench. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Tirupati Balaji Temple in Jammu". Daily Excelsior. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  17. ^ Nayak, Sanjeev (9 June 2023). "Sixth Tirupati Balaji Temple Opens in Jammu For Devotees". Oneindia. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Tirupati Balaji temple opened in Jammu". The Economic Times. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Tirupati Balaji Temple in Jammu nears completion, set to open on 8 June". Daily Excelsior. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  20. ^ "LG Advises Construction of Gurukul, Health Centre at Upcoming Venkateswara Swamy Temple". Daily Excelsior. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  21. ^ Sharma, Mahima (8 June 2023). "Tirupati Balaji Temple in Jammu: Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Tirupati Balaji temple opened in Jammu". Deccan Herald. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  23. ^ "Tirupati Balaji temple opens door to devotees in Jammu". The Siasat Daily. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  24. ^ Shukla, G.P. (8 June 2023). "TTD's Lord Venkateswara temple in Jammu opens for darshan". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Jammu". Newsmeter. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
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