Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 11: Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Syed Basharat Bukhari today said that several reformative initiatives have been taken to ensure transparency, accountability and effective implementation of Public Service Guarantee Act, besides constituting of State Revenue and Land Use Planning Board for effective use of land resources.
Replying to discussion on Demand of Grants in the Legislative Assembly today, the Minister said that the State Revenue and Land Use Planning Board comprising of experts would be tasked to use scientific methods for identifying land for different purposes like housing, horticulture, agriculture, industries, brick kilns etc.
Bukhari informed the House that the Prime Minister of India announced a Reconstruction Plan for the State of J&K on November 7, 2015 which among other components includes a component of “Additional Financial Assistance to the affectees of September-2014 floods under PMDP-2015”.
The Minister said that Rs 206 crore has been disbursed under SDRF norms, Rs 566 crore under PMNRF, Rs 957 under PMDP-2015 besides Rs 800 crore earmarked as interest subvention for affected traders.
Bukhari said that the department is working on framing a comprehensive Rehabilitation Policy for the entire State that will have a budgetary support. He said that policy will go a long way in taking care of any loss happening due to future natural calamity/disaster.
Regarding rehabilitation of displaced persons of PoK and Chhamb, the Minister said that the Reconstruction Plan, among other elements, includes a component of “Rehabilitation Package for one time settlement of 36384 families for PoK and Chhamb DPs (Displaced Persons)” for which an allocation of Rs 2000 crore has been provided.
He said that relief and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants has received focused attention of Government and among other things the Government has constructed shops for migrants at Jagti township, bifurcation of ration cards has been simplified, construction of 40 bedded Hospital at Jagti, Nagrota and construction of Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at Jagti. In addition to it filling of 3,000 supernumerary posts under PMs package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants has been initiated and the same will also include those KPs who have not migrated.
Regarding encroachments on Custodian Department land, he said that about 500 kanals of land has been retrieved during last 4 months. He said that the officials have been asked to give complete detail of land under Custodian Department with self attestation from Custodians and Custodian General. He said that all the details would be put on the website soon. He announced that a Committee of experts headed by Director EDI has been constituted, which will suggest measure for effective utilization and productive use of Custodian Property.
The Minister said that the department has launched as ambitious Digital India Land Record Modernization Programme under which 2.21 lakh revenue pages have been scanned and digitized. He said that the digitalization is underway in Jammu and Srinagar districts which will be further expanded to five more districts.
Bukhari also said that the issuance of Permanent Resident Certificates would be simplified but with strong deterrence to avoid its misuse. To ensure Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA) is implemented in letter and spirit, he said that the Act will be amended soon to make its implementation more effective.
The Minister said that regarding removal of encroachment of land, Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners have been tasked to fix quarterly targets.
Earlier, while replying to demand of grants, Minister of State for Hajj and Auqaf, Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi said that the Government is working to streamline the Wakf Board and utilize its assets for the welfare of the society.
The Minister said that the Board is mulling to establish scientific and technological institutes, colleges, shopping malls and high rise buildings.
Later, the House passed the grants of Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation, Hajj and Auqaf, for the year 2016-17, which were moved by the Ministers, amounting to Rs 208959.23 lakhs with voice vote.
Earlier, speaking on Demand of Grants, Sukhnandan demanded reforms in Revenue Department and sought redressal of the issues that are being faced by the people. He accused some officials of Revenue Department of looting flood victims living in the midst of Tawi River in Jammu.
Chowdhary Qamar Hussain demanded that the errors and flaws in the Revenue Department should be rectified. MLA Mian Altaf demanded justice for the people who are being allegedly harassed by the Revenue Department.
Nawang Rigzin Jora said Revenue Department is the face of Government and maintaining transparency and accountability of department is akin to maintaining transparency and accountability of the Government. He called for preparedness in wake of threat of earthquake and other natural calamities and also demanded that the Patwaris should remain available to people.
Rajesh Gupta demanded redressal of the tenants residing in custodian property, saying enough of the politics has been done with regard to them.
Engineer Rasheed demanded creation of left out Administrative Units, particularly in his Langate constituency while as Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said there is need of reforms in the Revenue Department and requested that the settlement process should be re-started.
Hakeem Mohammad Yasin said Revenue Department is the soul of Government and demanded that settlement process should be completed. He said Roshni Act has been misused by encroachers and land grabbers and urged Government to look into the matter. Bashir Ahmad Dar suggested that the Government should look whether new Administrative Units are benefiting or not and said that transfer policy is not clear.
Altaf Kaloo said Patwaris should be allotted permanent offices and alleged that there is no accountability. He further alleged embezzlement in flood relief. Mohammad Ashraf Mir said thousands of kanals of grazing land in his Sonwar constituency has been grabbed by encroachers and an enquiry into this by Divisional Commissioner is still pending.
Aijaz Ahmad Khan sought second relief for those victims of September 2014 floods who have not been so far while as Noor Muhammad demanded clearance of pending cases of flood victims so that they get relief amount. Rajeev Sharma said the contractors who worked post September 2014 floods under SDRF norms should be paid their pending payments. Mohammad Shafi Uri demanded names of illegal occupants of Wakf land.
Usman Majeed accused Government of failure with regard to payment of flood relief to September 2014 flood victims. He urged Government to make Patwaris accountable. Abdul Majeed Paddar demanded rehabilitation of September 2014 flood in his DH Pora constituency. Muhammad Akbar Lone said the flood victims in his Sonawari constituency faced extreme difficulties in getting relief due to political intervention as a result of failure of Revenue Department officials as they didn’t update their names in the list.
Pawan Gupta demanded digitization of Revenue Department records in shortest possible time. He said people are facing difficulties post-creation of Administrative Units and called for comprehensive policy with regard to State land and other related issues.
Dilip Singh Parihar alleged discrimination with his constituency vis-à-vis Administrative Units and expressed hope that the Revenue Minister will do justice. Gulzar Ahmad Wani demanded compensation for those flood victims whose land was affected in September 2014. Anjum Fazili sought compensation for those flood victims of Amira Kadal constituency who haven’t been compensated so far. She also called for disaster management planning.
Javaid Rana demanded settlement of evacuee property in Jammu and Kashmir and also demanded ban on constructions on agricultural land. Haji Asgar Ali Karbalaie said that the land in Command area has been encroached and army is no paying any rent of the land under its occupation. He also said that there is no Patwar Khana in Kargil.
Mohammad Khalil Bandh said 350 households affected by September 2014 floods haven’t been paid second installment of flood relief and demanded their installment. Ishfaq Jabbar expressed his unhappiness over the proper utilization of Wakf property even as 50 years have passed since its formation. He demanded one time settlement of all Kashmiri migrants irrespective of caste and religion.
Kuldeep Raj demanded easing of State Subject process and said it is at present a complicated process while as Raja Manzoor Ahmad demanded Administrative Units in Teetwal. Yawar Mir sought the rehabilitation of 22 landslide affected families in his Rafiabad constituency. He said Government should first settle land issues and then go for digitization.
Abdul Majeed demanded payment for contractors who worked in the aftermath of September 2014 floods under SDRF norms. Sheikh Mohammad Tantray demanded technical grade for Patwaris and also compensation to the victims affected by landslides. Deldan Namgyal said there is a village called Turtuk in Nobra which is not in the land record of Revenue Department but is shown in Pakistan and people have to get an affidavit for getting PRCs. He said non-availability of SDM forced him to work as SDM for two years in Nobra.
GM Saroori demanded rectification of the system of Revenue Department and an end to the occupation of Wakf properties.
Follow our WhatsApp channel