Javaid Naikoo
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 22: The conversion of agricultural land in residential areas is going unabated across Jammu and Kashmir.
A report shared by sources in Revenue Department with Early Times said that arable land in Jammu and Kashmir continues to shrink due to unabated conversion of agricultural land for commercial and residential purposes.
They said that as per recent figures compiled in this regard, the land has shrunk from 0.14 hectare per-person in 1981 to 0.08 hectare per-person in 2001 and further to 0.06 hectare per-person in 2012 and the process is still on.
Experts in agriculture also said that state lost around 2 lakh kanals of agricultural land to commercialization and for residential purposes in length and breadth of state.
Details collected from different parts of Kashmir reveal that over the years, multi-storied residential houses, shopping malls, schools and commercial complexes have come up on agricultural land by way of illegal means.
Experts said that in cities and towns,municipal councils and committees issue site plans to people for construction of buildings without showing any concern for conversion of agricultural land in to colonies and markets.
While in villages people unaware of consequences of fast conversion of agricultural land in to residential areas choose places as per their wish and hindrance from authorities at the helm of affairs.
People from Sopore and Baramulla said that hundreds of commercial and residential complexes were erected by people in formerly known agricultural sites which includes New colony Sopore, Model town, Sangrama, ChalkooRaifiabad, Watergam, Sheeri and Zainageer areas. In Pulwama district most affected areas are Dangerpora via by-pass, Gongoo, Pinglena, Ratnipora, Lajoora, Puchal, Kakapora, Neva, Khanda, and areas adjacent o Degree College Pulwama. People from Shopian said that conversion of Horticulture land for commercial purpose goes unabated in Arhama,By pass, Batapora, Kanipora and Gagren areas falling adjacent to main town, while in villages people does not bother to convert apple orchards in to residential areas with impunity.
Similar kind of reports were also received from Central Kashmir's rice bowl Budgam and Gandeba ldistricts and Anantnag and Kulgam of South Kashmir.
In Srinagar nature loving people blame Srinagar Municipal Corporation for allowing illegal constructions in length and breadth and criticize unconcerned approach adopted by government to check conversion of agricultural land in to markets and residential colonies with impunity by people.
People from various parts of Jammu region expressing their concerns over unabated land shrinking also blame successive governments for paying deaf ears to this grave problem.
Pertinently for first in April 2012, the High Court hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) passed directions to all Deputy Commissioners to ensure the provisions whether the Jammu and Kashmir Agrarian Act and the Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act are implemented to stop the conversion of agricultural land.
In its next hearings, the High court though continued calling concerned officials to produce reports about recovery of agricultural land, however the illegal land conversion goes unabated. |
