I
Sir,
B D Sharma, IAS (Retd) has highlighted a very detailed article about required reforms for land records, Revenue Department as well as on doubling of the farmers’ income by 2022.
During last year July 2019, when I met some Sarpanches of the Area, e g Khojipur, Shahpur, Majua, Chamnachak, etc, was shocked to note that the Ranbir Canal from Bishnah onwards to Maghal, Rakh Jhang, Chamnachak, Khour, Zerda,that they did not get any attention for past several years, despite dharnas, representations, and that probably for more than 3-4 decades. That had resulted in no water supply for farmers, forcing them for digging borewells and installation of Pumps borewells. That costs not only discharging of ground water but also spending electricity to pump water for agriculture purposs. At times not enough supply of electricity, forces people to use generators, spending more money but also causing pollution and wasting time and money, which otherwise could have been saved by our poor / dear farmers for more meaningful purposes.
Together with my area Sarpanches, We made several representations to the DC Jammu, DC Samba as well as the Agriculture and Irrigation Department but of no use as they had their own priorities. However, we understand that Govt have planned and earmarked an amount of apx 14 Crores for supply of Water for the Ranbir Canal from Ravi-Tawi Project, we do not know how many years will that take.
As far as Revenue Department is concerned the jobs of Patwari has become so lucrative that people from far flung areas e g Kishtwar, Kashmir, Doda, etc have been posted in Jammu regions including at Samba and other districts of Jammu. Another reason for that probably is that not many people in Jammu opt for Urdu, mainly for no teachers.
In my view not more than 10 percent people in Jammu Region read, understand or write Urdu, whereas all Revenue Records have been kept and preserved in Urdu for no reason. These should have been changed keeping in view the requirement and need of the time for better transparency. I had made several representations that atleast Revenue Records in Jammu region be made in Hindi or English but was never heard.
I do not hesitate to add that Revenue Department charges fixed percentage for any document / records so required for any sales / purchase.
It would be great if the Govt gives Pass Book to the farmers and keeps all records on line to be linked with Aadayar Cards so that people can check that from time to time. That will surely help the farmers.
It is recommened that the Govt may allow volunteer land consolidation if the farmers so desire and no fee, in fact may reward such farmers for their productive / healthy thoughts. As of today, one has to pay for registry charges for consolidation of the land, I can say so, as I had paid for one such deal in my village Majua.
When, the then DC Jammu, Simrandeep Singh, visited our village Majua, he liked the idea of volunteer land consolidation but his Tehsildar did not agree for the reasons that it involves too much work and his own conventional thoughts.
It is strongly recomended, that over past few decades, the land has been devided in to several divisions, and it is time that Government of Jammu and Kashmir, may consider for volunteer consolidation of the land as per mutual interests,and if possible please consider giving some incentives to such farmers / people, so that they have better produce etc.
It is further recomended if the entire village agrees, then may be 5 percent of the land can be used for a common path, water passage, etc, for farmings and that the farmers effectively will be saving the same amount of land for consolidation and will have an easy access to also….
Prem Vashishtha
II
Sir,
This refers to B D Sharma’s article “Some issues concerning Revenue Department” (Excelsior Jan 2nd 2020). Sharma Ji has very well said that Revenue department was the most important Government Department in the past which used to be headed by ministers. People like Mirza Afzal Beigh , Pandit Trilochan Dutt, G N Kochak and others have remained Revenue Ministers of J&K in past. Mr Sharma has mentioned about Land Acquisition Act in J&K wherein land is almost taken forcibly from people especially farmers by Govt from last many years.
The Daily Excelsior has been carrying articles on regular basis about weak Land Acquisition Act in J&K. Now as the Central Law on Land Acquisition has been made applicable to J&K, its benefits should reach out to the people. I have been told that National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Revenue Department are not following this law in letter and spirit when it comes to projects wherein no payment or awards have been made. The Govt needs to issue fresh notification under Central Law (Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Act) as J&K Land Acquisition Act 1934 has been already repealed. Central Law is clear on this (see section 23 and 24) and no land acquisition process can be continued under old law if payments have not been made to effected people.
B A Bhat
(Advocate) Srinagar
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