Lucknow, Sep 12 (IANS): Alarmed by widespread encroachment of pastures, reservoirs, ponds and graveyards that are owned by village councils, Uttar Pradesh has constituted a committee the principal secretary of the revenue department to deal with the issue.

The committee was formed Tuesday on the directive of the Allahabad High Court. The commissioner and secretary, board of revenue, will be a member and coordinator of the committee, and will receive complaints of encroachment from members of the Gram Sabha.

The other members of the committee include a member nominated by the director general of police of the state, not below the rank of the inspector general of police, and a member nominated by the principal secretary, law and justice and legal remembrancer, not below the rank of additional legal remembrancer and special secretary.

An official told IANS that the committee would dispose of complaints received from members of the Gram Sabha in a time-bound manner after a detailed enquiry.