Srinagar, Oct 29 (KINS): The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday informed the Legislative Assembly that it has allotted five marlas of land each to 511 landless families across the Union Territory for the construction of houses under a government housing initiative.
In a written reply, the government stated that 234 beneficiaries in the Kashmir division and 277 in the Jammu division were provided land free of cost.
Among the districts, Bandipora recorded the highest number of beneficiaries with 109 allotments, followed by Baramulla (61) and Anantnag (30). In the Jammu division, Doda topped the list with 68 allotments, followed by Kishtwar (55) and Rajouri (48). No beneficiaries were recorded in Shopian, Budgam, or Ramban districts, the government said.
However, the government also disclosed that 2,568 applications were rejected for failing to meet eligibility criteria. Rajouri district reported the highest number of rejections at 1,245, followed by Anantnag (286), Ramban (162), and Udhampur (146).
“The applications were rejected on grounds such as ineligibility, existing ownership of residential land, residence in forest or Rakhs and Farms areas, or possession of more than five marlas of land,” the statement clarified.
Meanwhile, the Revenue Department informed the House that over 21,000 kanals of land have been delineated in the Jammu division under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act, 2010, while no such delineation has yet been carried out in the Kashmir division.
In a written reply to MLA Rajiv Jasrotia, the department said that the delineation and demarcation process was initiated following the issuance of SRO-456 on October 25, 2017, aimed at preventing disputes related to water sources and watercourses.
It further informed that the Administrative Council, through Decision No. 17/1/2022 dated January 29, 2022, constituted three-tier committees to supervise the delineation and demarcation of lands not forming part of any water source but recorded as Gair Mumkin Khad, Gair Mumkin Darya, or Gair Mumkin Nallah in revenue records.
So far, a total of 21,697 kanals and 17 marlas of land have been delineated in the Jammu division, with Kathua district alone accounting for 15,057 kanals and one marla, including both state and private land.
“To address issues related to Gair Mumkin Khad and similar categories, the government has set up a committee headed by the Deputy Chief Minister, which will submit its report within three months,” the department said, adding that the Jal Shakti Department will act as the secretariat for the committee.
The reply also noted that since delineation requires technical expertise, the Jal Shakti Department, as the nodal agency for water resource management, has been entrusted with carrying out the process in accordance with statutory provisions.(KINS)
