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| Bill to check commercialization of Agri land | | J&K industries ministry approaches CM, seeks review | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 27: With Agriculture minister and Industries minister both pulling in opposite directions, Jammu and Kashmir government is likely to face acid test over the proposed legislation to put a conditional ban on the commercialization of the agricultural land.
While the Agriculture minister is ready with the proposed legislation, sources in the law department said that industries minister had approached them seeking either certain changes in the proposed or sending the bill to the select committee for further deliberations. They added that Industries minister Surjeet Singh Salathia is strongly against this legislation, which sources maintain would amplify the magnitude of problems being faced by industrialists in setting up their units.
Sources further disclosed that Salathia has even pleaded with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to ask the Agriculture minister to edit clauses pertaining to the industries in the proposed legislation. They said that industries minister has described the bill as 'retrograde' and against the developmental needs of Jammu and Kashmir.
Since the minister could not be contacted for comments, it has been reliably learnt that he would oppose the bill, when the minister moves it in the assembly during the ensuing Budget session beginning from Monday. Informing about the proposed legislation, an official of the agriculture ministry said that 'Jammu and Kashmir Prohibition on Conversion of Agricultural Land for Non-Agricultural Purposes Act- 2010' would be tabled in the assembly during the upcoming budget session.
He added that ministry would ensure that the legislation goes through without any major problem. He maintained that the legislation would help in keeping a complete check on the commercialization of the agricultural land. Contrary to what is being circulated in the media circles, officials said that the bill would prevent misuse of agricultural land.
They maintained that the legislation contains a clause which bars setting up of industrial units within two kilometers of the agricultural land. Sources further affirmed that in case of exigency, the person desirous of setting up an industrial unit has to approach concerned regional head i.e. Divisional Commissioner concerned for seeking permission for commercialization of agricultural land
Interestingly while the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reportedly ensured Industries minister of remedying the situation, Minister for Law and Rural Development Ali Mohammed Sagar had on February 22, 2011 while chairing cabinet sub-committee meeting constituted by the government under his chairmanship to check conversion of agriculture land into other activities and prepare the draft bill confirmed of government bringing the legislation under question.
Sagar had in that meeting advocated cause for making stringent laws to check conversion of agriculture land and ensuring that state has adequate land reserves for the agriculture purposes for the farmers to carry out their activities which would go a long way in ensuring adequate food grains to the state.
Sagar had further said that necessary amendments proposed in the draft bill have also been made public and the comments received from various quarters have also been incorporated in the same so as to make the laws more people-friendly and also more vibrant and stringer. Committee had also examined suggestions received from various government departments regarding the proposed recommendations in the bill and also the comments made by general public. |
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