Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 8: The Government today said that 32,0836 refugee families have settled in the State from PoK and West Pakistan since 1947.
While replying to a Calling Attention Notice on plight of displaced persons of 1947, 1965 and 1971 wars by Congress member Ravinder Kumar Sharma in the Upper House, Minister for Housing Raman Bhalla said at the time of partition of the country and tribal invasion during 1947 around 3, 1619 families from Pakistan occupied Kashmir and 5,764 families from West Pakistan crossed to this side of the border.
“Out of the 31619 families, 5300 families settled in other parts of the country and remaining 26,319 settled in the State along with 5764 families from West Pakistan,” Bhalla said.
Giving figures of the families, the Minister said during 1965 and 1971 wars around 10, 065 families shifted to safer places, out of which 8,100 families have been settled in 156 localities (Basties) established in districts Jammu, Samba and Kathua and the remaining made their own arrangements in other urban areas.
He said out of the 2, 6319 families of PoK refugees of 1947, 2, 1116 families settled in rural areas which were provided around 10 lakh kanals of land. With regard to the remaining families who opted to settle in urban areas, around 2,421 families were provided plots or quarters.
Bhalla said some of the rural families complained they have not been provided land as per the fixed scale and were provided compensation to purchase their own land.
“The Government has identified 2,814 families and they have been provided compensation against the land deficiency at Rs. 30,000 per kanal subject to ceiling of Rs. 1.50 lakh per family. So far, an amount of Rs. 30.64 crore has been disbursed in favour of 2,440 families and the process is going on.”
The Minister said around 198 families have been identified from urban areas who were not provided plots, so funds have been earmarked for meeting their requirements.
Bhalla made clear that refugees from West Pakistan have no ownership rights on the land which they have occupied and the Government has not provided major facilities to them for they were not the permanent residents of the State.
“The refugees from WP have occupied around 46,000 kanals of land, but they have no ownership rights of that land,” he said.
Regarding 1965 and 1971 Chamb refugees, he said about 8,100 families were settled in Basties and have been provided land as per the scale fixed for PoK refugees in three districts.
“Out of 699, 677 families, who were found having deficiency in land, were provided compensation against the land deficiency at Rs 5000 per kanal against irrigated land and Rs 3330 against non-irrigated land subject to the ceiling of Rs. 25,000 per family,” he said.
Further the Minister said that around 1,965 families have settled in non-camp areas and already 1,502 claims have been verified and they have been provided compensation at Rs. 25,000 per family. About 1,230 families have already received this compensation and in respect of remaining 272 families, the compensation shall be provided very soon, he added.
Bhalla said that for settlement of their genuine demands, the State Government is also having regular interaction with Government of India.
Ravinder Kumar Sharma said that eligible families be given “one time exception” to give funds to them and the Government should also consider “one time settlement” of the refugees.
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