Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 25: Over 70 families of Akhnoor and Khour areas of district Jammu have been denied rent of their land on which West Pakistan Refugees were temporarily rehabilitated by the Government decades ago.
These hapless villagers who have remained unpaid by the State Government for the last 19 years, have moved from pillar to post including the offices of Divisional Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu during these past nearly two decades, have now knocked the doors of J&K Governor, SP Malik.
In a memorandum submitted to the State Governor, they pointed out that on the request of State Government they had rented out their Agriculture lands at Gakhral, Jayyal and Sidruan villages of Akhnoor sector for the temporary rehabilitation of West Pakistan/ Chhamb refugees during 1965. The State Government also fixed annual rent per kanal of each family.
The State Government paid rent only up to 1999 during the year 2006 that too, after so many efforts and completion of long formalities. These families have moved to the offices of DC and Divisional Commissioner Jammu many times but their issue remained unresolved. Every time they are told that their file has been sent to Revenue Secretary in Civil Secretariat for clearance. They demanded if the Govt is unable to pay the rent, hand over their lands back to them so that these families could start agriculture activity there.
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