SRINAGAR : The new land laws introduced in Jammu and Kashmir replaced 11 Land Laws that existed in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, which reflected old regressive, intrinsically contradictory and outdated laws, with a set of modern, progressive and people friendly provisions.
The new land laws will not only afford protection to over 90% of the land in J&K from being alienated to outsiders but will also help revamp the agriculture sector, foster rapid industrialization, aid economic growth and create jobs in J&K.
The J&K Government, which is constantly working towards creating a modern, efficient, transparent and citizen friendly UT, has ensured protections and safeguards for the land after introduction of new land laws.
The new land laws are being hailed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir as a major step towards development and progress of J&K. The historic initiative of the government will revamp agriculture and allied sectors besides ensuring holistic development of all sectors.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, through an order on October 26, introduced amendments to 14 laws of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and repealed 12 others. Key amendments were made to four major state laws that governed the ownership, sale, and purchase of land in the erstwhile state. These are The J&K Development Act, 1970, The J&K Land Revenue Act, 1996, The Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976 and The J&K Land Grants Act, 1960.
The designation of land for industrial purposes will open up greater employment avenues for the youth who have always yearned for industrial revolution in J&K so that they can get better employment opportunities.
According to the new land law, agricultural land can only be sold to an agriculturist and he has been defined as a person who cultivates land personally in the UT. The term ‘agriculture land’ unambiguously is defined to include not just agriculture but horticulture and allied agro-activities as well. The most extensive definition includes not just horticulture but poultry, Animal Husbandry, fallow land etc also.
While progressive provisions of the repealed laws have been retained by including them in the modified Land Revenue Act, new provisions have been added to modernize existing laws. There are provisions for setting up of a Board of Revenue, Regional planning for regulating the use of land, alienation and conversion, land lease, consolidation and Contract Farming. The Board of Revenue comprising senior officers will not only be the Developing Authority for preparing regional plans but can notify a scheme of consolidation of landholdings and also a scheme for restricting and regulating the fragmentation of agricultural landholdings to make agriculture viable.
Last year in October, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that “not an inch of agricultural land” in Jammu and Kashmir has been given to anyone from outside the UT while addressing gathering after launching the Apple festival 2021 at SKICC.
He assured the farmers that “no agricultural land has been given to any one from outside and to protect the land of Jammu and Kashmir is responsibility of the government of Jammu and Kashmir”.
One must speak with responsibility and it is a fact that not even an inch of land belonging to any farmer has been given to anyone from outside Jammu and Kashmir and even law states that agricultural land has to be protected. With due respect to this law, it is the responsibility of the Jammu and Kashmir government to safeguard the agricultural lands”, LG maintained.
As a major initiative towards good governance and ease of convenience to the citizens, the Revenue Department started issuance of trilingual Land Passbooks in Hindi, Urdu and English to the landholders with effect from 19th of February 2022 from the districts of Jammu and Srinagar.
The land passbooks being issued to every landholder contain sentry from the Jamabandi in revenue estate so as to enable him to make its use for credit facilities and for other matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The land passbook prescribed by the Revenue Department is true to the record and can be generated online by landholders without visiting a Patwari or Tehsildar or any Revenue office.
With scanning and digitization of land records, already under implementation for convenience of citizens as part of good governance initiative of the Government, the department in tune with the statute laid has also framed the Jammu and Kashmir Land Passbook Rules-2022 for online issuance of Land Passbook.
No: PR/DI/22/162/
Government of Jammu and Kashmir
Department of Information
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Email: [email protected]
Govt creates Web link to facilitate live watching of NPRD–2022
JAMMU, APRIL 20: Government has created a registration Web link to enable members of Panchayat fraternity and other stakeholders to watch National Panchayat Raj Day (NPRD-2022) event live which is scheduled to be held on April 24, 2022.
The members of Panchayat fraternity can register on the link: https://pmevents.ncog.gov.in/ for watching the NPRD–2022 event live from 12:00 noon on April 24, 2022.
The concerned department(s) have been asked to encourage the elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions, Rural Local Bodies as well as other stakeholders and general rural masses to register online on the designated link [https://pmevents.ncog.gov.in/] for viewing the Prime Minister’s interaction with Panchayat representatives and address to Special Gram Sabhas across the country on April 24, 2022 (National Panchayati Raj Day).
No: PR/DI/22/163/
Government of Jammu and Kashmir
Department of Information
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Email: [email protected]
Parmar reviews flood management plan for Jhelum & Tawi
JAMMU, APRIL 20: Principal Secretary, I&FC Department, Ashok Kumar Parmar today held a meeting to review the flood management works of the Jhelum and Tawi rivers here being taken under Prime Minister’s Development Plan (PMDP).
The meeting was attended by Secretary Technical (PWD), Joint Director (E&S), Jal Shakti and SE Hydraulic Circle Srinagar.
The Principal Secretary enquired from the officers about various components of this vital project. He took cognizance of the pending works and the reasons thereof. He maintained that all the works are of essential nature and should be taken in hand for early completion.
Parmar instructed the officers to reconstitute the committee and include a member from Central Water Commission in the High Level Committee. He impressed upon them to implement all the conditions put forth by Administrative Council. He urged them toask the concerned quarters to implement the relevant requirements as per the AC decisions.
He urged them to accelerate the process by its regular follow-up. He enjoined upon them to take opinion from the finance department regarding the pending technical sanction of few works already done in the Hokersar wetland. He asked them to stick to the guidelines and explore all options under it including post facto technical sanction of the project. The officers were further asked to take up the funding issue with central government again.
The meeting was informed that the comprehensive plan for flood management works were broken into 2 phases. It was also given out that the phase-I of the plan has already been completed at an estimated cost of Rs 399 crores and phase-II of the plan is under process of implementation.
The meeting was also apprised that part-A of the comprehensive plan consists of works to the tune of Rs1623.43 crore and under part-B works to the tune of about Rs 3630 crore are under implementation. It was given out that the financial concurrence from the department has also been secured for part-A of the second phase and is about to be tendered out after completing codal formalities.
It was further apprised that after culmination of the whole plan the threat of flood in J&K would abate to a larger extent.
No: PR/DI/22/164/
