A day after the Administrative council headed by Lt-Gov Manoj Sinha approved the regulations framed by the board of revenue for conversion of agriculture land for non-agricultural purposes two mainstream Kashmir based parties reacted sharply claiming the move is aimed at engineering 'demographic' changes and 'disempowering' locals.
Under the new regulations, the District Collector has been empowered to grant permission to the change in land use from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes in accordance with the procedure as to be notified by the board of Revenue.
The permission is to be granted within 30 days of filing of the application with a provision of deemed approval if no decisions are taken.The powers have been delegated to the District Collector to grant permission for land up to 12 ½ standard acres against a fee of 5 percent of the market value of the land notified under the Stamps Act.
Apparently this decision has unnerved some of the valley based politicians.
First of all former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party Chief Mehbooba Mufti in her tweet said the move is aimed at engineering demographic changes by allowing outsiders to buy land in J&k.
Mehobooba tweeted, "JK admin’s new policy enabling conversion of agricultural land to nonagricultural purposes reveals their nefarious designs of engineering demographic changes. The development agenda is a ruse. Latest regulation doesn’t even require the 15 yr domicile certificate as a prerequisite.
After depriving locals of their rightful share of govt jobs, such abrupt policy decisions that pave the way for outsiders to buy land in J&K are taken only to further disempower locals".
On the other hand National Conference Vice President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah invoked his grandfather Sheik Mohd Abdullah's land to the tiller reforms while opposing the move.
Omar tweeted, "Allowing use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes is another nail in the coffin of the “land to the tiller” reforms in J&K. This landmark reform has been a major reason for the low levels of poverty and it will also threaten the food security of the people of J&K".Raising other concerns Omar said the fact that this conversion of land use doesn’t even require the 15 year domicile certificate as a prerequisite will also rekindle fears about the motives behind such decisions.
Meanwhile, sharing details of the regulation a statement issued by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations said, "The regulations empower the applicant to commence the non agriculture use on the permitted land within one year from the date of the order issued by the District Collector in this behalf.
However, the land can be diverted and used only for the purpose specified in the permission.
Moreover, the regulations provide exemption from seeking the permission in cases of conversion for construction of residential house or farm-related buildings and storages with a ceiling of 400 Sq. mtrs (17 Marla).
The Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Tehsildar concerned have been entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of these regulations within their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Besides, it will be the duty of every Agriculture Extension Officer to report cases of violation to the revenue officers and any neglect on this account can attract disciplinary action for dereliction of duty,the statement said.