Srinagar, Aug 24: The Government on Monday revealed that different security agencies have occupied 10,54,721 kanals of land in Jammu and Kashmir. It includes 8,55,407 kanals under illegal occupation and 1,99,314 kanals occupied by the agencies on the basis of lease, licenses and acquisitions under the provision of Land Acquisition Act, government informed the Legislative Assembly.
Kashmir Valley tops the list with 5,33455.78 kanals illegally occupied by the security agencies including Army, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Force and Border Security Force, followed by Jammu with 3,21951.4 kanals of land under occupation.
Out of 5,33455.78 kanals in Kashmir region, 26,3376 kanals are under illegal occupation in Leh while 13,3804 kanals are in Nobra.
In response to a question by National Conference legislator, Rafi Ahmad Mir, the government in a written reply said 8,55407 kanals of land were under occupation in 80 tehsils of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh.
In Kashmir, the Budgam has 20,959.18 kanals of land under occupation followed by Uri and north and south tehsils in Srinagar respectively with 15,602.12 kanals, 15,364 kanals and 12,949 kanals of land. The security agencies have occupied 12935.17 kanals of land in Karnah, 7415.05 kanals in Pulwama, 5563.01 kanals in Kupwara, 5368.14 kanals in Handwara, 4248.12 kanals in Shangus, 3636.14 kanals in Awantipora, 3624 kanals in Khaltsi, 2816.15 kanals in Lar, 2751.18 kanals in Islamabad, 2555.13 kanals in Kargil, 1665.02 kanals in Bandipore, 1250.08 kanals in Sonawari, 1487.08 in Varmul, 1213.13 in Sopur, 1433.10 in Kangan, 1647.12 in Pampore, besides several hundred kanals of land under occupation in different tehsils.
In Jammu region 56862.11 kanals of land have been occupied in Mendhar, 56144.11 kanals in Jammu, 32397.18 kanals in Udhampur, 31525.06 kanals in Samba, 14864.10 kanals in Hiranagar, 13311 kanals in Haveli, 11278.11 kanals in RS Pora, 9958 kanals in Kathua, 7866.06 kanals in Baderwah, 3335 kanals in Reasi, 2194.05 kanals in Mahore, 2569.03 kanals in Bishnah, 2272.16 kanals in Doda, 1002.05 kanals in Bani. In mnay other tehsils of Jammu the measurement of land under occupation runs in hundreds of kanals.
Replying to another question, government said 1,99314 kanals of land had been occupied by the security agencies on the basis of lease, licences and acquisitions under the provision of Land Acquistion Act, which includes, 36,397.24 kanals of land in Kashmir and rest in Jammu.
Under the category, in Kashmir division, Budgam tops the list with 16,698 kanals of land acquired under land acquisition act by the Army, BSF, CRPF and Beacon besides 1048 kanals and 1000.09 kanals of land by the army in Pulwama and Pampore. In northern tehsil of Srinagar, Varmul and Leh 10,656 kanals and 31629.19 kanals and 1508 kanals of land have been respectively leased out to Army and BSF. In addition hundreds of kanals of land have been either leased out or acquired by the security agencies.
In Mendhar tehsil of Jammu, army has unauthorizedly occupied 49825.08 kanals of land and out of 32375.05 kanals of land under them, army and BSF have occupied 875.09 kanals and 1483.08 kanals of land respectively.
Out of 19370.14 kanals of land under its custody in Akhnoor, Army and BSF have unauthorized occupation over 7620 kanals and 4895 kanals of land.
In Samba, Hiranagar, Kathua and Bhaderwah, the government has leased out 16988.10 kanals, 15599.14 kanals, 5283.07 kanals and 7684 kanals of land to security agencies.
In Haveli Tehsil of Poonch, the government had accorded sanction for transfer of 69 kanals of land to the Army however it has unauthorizedly occupied 1984 kanals.
Responding to a question the government said the land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act becomes the property of the party which had acquired it.
“The question of restoration of land to the rightful owners or proprietors doesn’t arise. The land under lease continues with the lessee till the expiry of the lease, after which it can be extended or the land resumed.”
From last year, the government said the land requisitioned under the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, rental compensation is being released to the land owners under revised rates. “And in case of agricultural land, the compensation is paid on a six monthly basis or on release of the land, whichever is earlier,” the government claimed.
The government said the requisition for the land and request for the acquisition of requisitioned land received from government of India departments and organisations, army were processed in terms of provisions of the Requisitions and Acquisitions of Immovable Property Act.
