x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Back Issues  
 
news details
Agri land conversion goes on unabated in Kathua
Property dealers, Revenue Deptt violate court directions
11/2/2015 11:47:07 PM
Arun Kumar
Early Times Report

Kathua, Nov 2: In the absence of any stringent measures on the ground, massive construction spree is fast turning agricultural land into domestic and commercial assets in Kathua district.
The unregulated and unplanned swallowing up of agricultural land has been happening under the nose of the government, that too in violation of the High Court’s direction.
The court had directed all Deputy Commissioners to stop conversion of agricultural land into residential colonies in their districts and asked them to explore possibility of accommodating the increasing population on modern lines.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray had passed the directions on a Public Interest Litigation titled Human Watch International versus State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Human Watch International had filed the PIL seeking directions regarding the agriculture land conversion into residential housing colonies in violation of law including J&K Land Revenue Act, J&K agrarian Reforms act and other land laws. According to Jammu and Kashmir Economic Survey report 2012-13, the estimated percentage contribution of Agriculture & allied sector to State Gross Domestic Product (GSDP) has gone down to 21.19 per cent in 2011-12, against, the corresponding share of 28.06 per cent, registered in 2004-05 at constant prices.
In Kathua, the Revenue officials are allegedly involved in the murky business and are in league with property dealers.
Ram Lal, a local said, villages like Chann Garghan, Khokhyal, Sher Pur, Mulla Talab etc are more targeted by property dealers and Revenue officers to convert land of poor farmers for commercial purposes. He said bureaucrats, medical professionals, retired professors are among the land buyers.
Dalip Singh, Sarpanch of Chak Desa Singh, said that various implementing and monitoring agencies like Revenue Department, Municipal Committee, have failed to curb the mass constructions taking place on agricultural land.
Singh said in Kathua the conversion of land into residential housing colonies is on peak and is in violation of law including J&K Land Revenue Act, J&K Agrarian Reforms Act and other laws. “Conversion of land is alarming. It is happening because there are no stringent measures on the ground,” he said.
Raqeeb Ahmad, a farmer, said property dealers and Revenue officials pressurize farmers to sell their lands at low prices whereas same land after turning into plots is being sold at high rates. He said the state has enough laws to prohibit the use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes but only the implementation part from the concerned enforcing agencies is missing. DDC Kathua, Ramesh Kumar, condemned the practice of agriculture land conversion and said district administration has constituted a team to verify the matter. He said government is serious about encroachment and conversation of land and assured that stringent action would be taken against the violators.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU