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| Agriculture land being converted into residential areas at alarming rate in JK | | | S Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 15: Despite repeated notices and orders officers and officials of the agriculture department have failed to stop the conversion of agricultural land into commercial and residential purposes in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mohammad Ramzan of Bemina- Srinagar said that this is not new as they are are witnessing the fact from the past several years that some people at the helm of officers are in deep slumber; they hardly bother to check or monitor what is happening in and around them.
“The conversion of agricultural land for commercial purposes is increasing at an alarming rate throughout Jammu and Kashmir and the concerned officials are turning a blind eye to ignore the issue as they don’t belong to this place,” alleged Ramzan.
He said that there was a provision of J&K Land Revenue Act 1996 that prohibits the conversion of paddy or vegetable land into any other use.
Besides violation of laws, the construction of residential and commercial buildings on agricultural land is in violation of the master plan, and despite knowing all these things, the concerned officials are in deep slumber.
Sources said that agriculture land was the main source of income and as the people belong to an agrarian society, officials of the revenue department should have put curbs on such a persistent practice, so that tomorrow the people wouldn’t become dependent on grain or any other food items.
“The practice has been going on for many decades and it is a kind of threat that is looming large as Kashmir shall be without food if the practice continues in future, but who bothers, perhaps nobody,” said sources.
Nisar Ahmad from Singhpora Pattan said that one fails to understand that who gives permission to the people to build tall buildings, commercial complexes or other solid structures on the agricultural lands, during rainy seasons, all water comes on roads that creates flood like situations.
Many times in the past, the High Court had pulled up the state government and directed the authorities to ensure that no conversion of agricultural land is allowed for commercial, residential and industrial purposes, but all goes unnoticed, said a group of locals from Singhpora area.
Fact of the matter is that, agriculture is the prime source of Jammu and Kashmir as around 70-80 percent of the population is directly or indirectly involved with it.
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