Conversion of agri land for non-agri purpose
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 17: Former MLA and CPI (M) leader Mohd Yousuf Tarigami has said that decision of the J&K Administration regarding converting agriculture land into non-agriculture purposes, is a plot to serve the interests of Corporate houses and Real Estate companies in the Jammu and Kashmir.
In a press statement issued today, Tarigami said the move to convert agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes comes two weeks after the administration had set rules “to facilitate the setting up of business enterprises on private land”. It can now be used for non-agricultural purposes. It will adversely impact our food security and can be insidious for out economy.
Just 13 months after the J&K Government had framed laws to protect the Union Territory’s agriculture land, the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, in a flip-flop on Thursday, paved the path for its conversion for non-agricultural purposes. The J&K Administrative Council (AC), which met under the chairmanship of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, in a significant decision, approved the regulations framed by the Board of Revenue for the conversion.
“The regulations are necessitated after the legislative changes in the Land Revenue Act post-reorganisation of the erstwhile State. They have been issued to regulate the uncontrolled conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes on the one hand and keep the developmental aspirations of the UT and the people on the other hand,” a spokesman said.
The Collectors have been empowered to grant permission to the change in land use. “The powers have been delegated to the District Collectors to grant permission for land up to 12 ½ standard acres against a fee of 5% of the market value of the land notified under the Stamps Act. Infact, it will empower the applicant to commence the non-agriculture use within one year from the date of the order.
The move comes two weeks after the administration had set rules “to facilitate the setting up of business enterprises on private land” to attract Rs 51,000 crore investment. In November 2020, the administration introduced land laws, first time since reading down of Article 370 in 2019, and claimed it “will afford protection to over 90% of the land in the Union Territory.
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