Final notice served after completion of all legal formalities
*Direction of revival issued to over 400 non-functional units
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 31: In a major development, the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Development Corporation has directed around 600 allottees of land in various industrial estates to come into production after completing all the formalities by ending June this year or be ready to vacate the plots. Moreover, over 400 non-functional units have been told to start revival as early as possible so that objective behind allotments could be achieved.
In its edition dated November 30, 2021, EXCELSIOR had exclusively reported that as huge chunk of land in the existing industrial estates has remained un-utilized for the past many years and creating impediments in giving necessary impetus to industrialization, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has set into motion an exercise for cancellation of lease deeds and eviction of allottees.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Development Corporation has issued notices to around 600 allottees of plots of different sizes in the industrial estates, which could not complete the permanent registration and other formalities till date, to come into production by ending June this year failing which land will be taken back from them.
“It has specifically been mentioned in the notices that in case the compliance is not ensured within the stipulated time-frame the allotments shall be considered as deemed cancelled and no more chance will be given to any one of them”, they informed, adding these notices have been served after completion of all the procedural formalities by the Estates Officers.
Similarly, over 400 non-functional units have also been asked to start revival process as early as possible otherwise action on the analogy of 600 other allottees will also be taken against them as Government has made up its mind not to remain mute spectator to non-utilization of plots for the intended purpose anymore, sources disclosed.
“All these allottees had taken land on subsidized rates and other rebates from the Government and other agencies but even after the lapse of several years they have either not come into production or stopped the same after few years on one or the other pretext. This amounts to creating hurdles in the plans of the Government to generate as maximum as possible employment and attract investment to boost the economy”, they said, adding “there is no justification of allowing the allottees to remain in the possession of plots even after their failure to establish the industrial units or infuse new lease of life in the non-functional ones”.
According to the sources, there are numerous cases wherein the industrial units were established and made operational for some years but thereafter the same were closed on different grounds. “The possibility of some allottees having taken land with the sole objective of investment and not for establishment of industrial units cannot be ruled out”, they added.
In Kashmir valley, there are several plots in the industrial estates which were allotted several years back and some big units too were established by the allottees but after few years of operation the same were closed and the land continues to be under their possession for the last over two decades.
Similarly, there are number of units in different industrial estates of Jammu region which have turned defunct and the allottees are not in position to revive them. But they continue to be in possession of land thereby creating impediments in promotion of industrialization, sources further said.
“Notwithstanding the fact that law provides for retrieval of unutilized land from the allottees but no serious step was initiated in this regard by the successive Governments”, sources said, adding “a number of times decision was taken to get back the land from such allottees but vested interests in political as well as administrative set-up played spoilsport and the plan remained confined to the official files”.
“This time the Government is very serious on the issue and issuance of final notices to such a large number of allottees is the clear indication of the same”, they further said, adding “the retrieved land will be utilized for allotment under the new Industrial Policy”.
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