What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
A day after the notification of the J&K Land Grant Rules-2022, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said that necessary changes are being made in land laws for the benefit and convenience of the common masses.
“The land laws here were regressive. They were not framed keeping in view the interests of the common masses. Whatever changes are required for the convenience of common masses would be made,” he told an event in Srinagar last evening.
Sinha said that 40-45 per cent of the total cases pending in various courts are related to land disputes.
On Tuesday, the J&K administration notified the Jammu & Kashmir Land Grant Rules-2022 which mandates that all outgoing lessees will have to hand over possession of land taken on lease to the government.
The Rules also state that all leases (except the subsisting/expired residential leases) including lease granted under the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Rules 1960, Notified Area (All Development Authorities set in Tourism Sector) Land Grants Rules, 2007 and leases expired or determined prior to the coming into force of these rules or issued under these rules shall not be renewed and shall stand determined.
The LG said that Srinagar will have the first-ever satellite town in the Union Territory. “The credit for that goes to the housing and urban development department and Srinagar Development Authority (SDA). This was the dream of the people of Srinagar that will now be fulfilled,” he said.
Sinha also said that after the medi-city project, satellite town is the second biggest step taken by the government.
Meanwhile, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the administration was arbitrarily evicting locals, institutions, tourism players, hoteliers and businesses occupying leased land, without giving them a chance to renew.
Calling the rules “very unfortunate”, Abdullah said, “At least, people who kept these institutions, structures and businesses alive in difficult times, should get the first chance. I agree that the leases have expired and need to be renewed, but those who have the leases should get a chance to renew. Fix the rate and tell them to submit the money.”
Saying that the aim of the move was to bring in outsiders, the national conference said, “What sort of justice is this? The motive of eviction is only to bring people from outside. Isn’t it the right of those living here already to get land or will outsiders get it. First give to those who are its residents, who live here already, and who have run the institutions here in difficult times.”
Omar further said that the authorities should explore new areas for providing land on lease and their development.
“If you want to bring new people from outside, sure, do it; but make new projects for them. Identify new areas; there are so many areas, which can be brought to the tourist map. There are so many beautiful areas which are undeveloped, hand over those to them; build roads, hotels and ski resorts,” he said.
Former CM Mehbooba Mufti also lashed out at the BJP, saying that they were trying to snatch land from locals to give it to outsiders. “I do not know about UP, but as per the laws passed here by BJP, land is being snatched from the locals leasing it. The land held by locals is being snatched to be given to outsiders,” she said.
Mufti said that the new rules were an inverse of (NC founder) Sheikh Abdullah’s ‘land to the tiller’ law (which allowed the peasants to own land in the past). “Now, those who have gotten land under lease, farmers, hoteliers, and businesspeople, are being told to vacate land and the authorities would like to do whatever they want. I think this is the biggest fraud and deception against people that they call us ‘our citizens’ and ‘integral part’ but are snatching their land,” she said.
J&K BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur said, “NC vice-president Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti are opposing the move as they will no longer be able to favour their ‘blue-eyed persons’, relatives, and those who could fill their coffers. Genuine persons, including the youth, will benefit from the land lease. There is no room for politics of betrayal.”
