S Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 27: The ban on illegal constructions on Agricultural land is on papers only, but practically the process is going on with impunity across the state, and government seems deaf and dumb over the issue.
According to sources , in 2016 government had issued an order with policy regarding to change of land use, it was mentioned that land is not only an important factor of production but also the basic means of subsistence for majority of the people. Unplanned constructions like rising of colonies, brick kilns, shopping complexes and other establishment has severely affected the agricultural husbandry of the state, said sources while quoting the order. Sources said at present almost there will be more than 1.40 crore population in Jammu and Kashmir, and almost 2,22,236 sq km is the area of J&K, and if calculated one third of the area is under the population in Jammu and Kashmir, but still we don't worry about the future consequences, said sources.
Sources told early times that there are illegal constructions that have been going on with impunity across the state and that too on the agricultural land but both the common masses and authorities concerned are turning deaf ear towards this burning issue.
"Many times authorities concerned had claimed that, the laws with regard to land use are being implemented in letter and spirit, but have they turned their eye towards some districts including Budgam, sources said.
Earlier several laws have been made and there are repeated directions of the high court but the state government has failed to stop the conversion of agricultural land into commercial and residential purposes.
If we talk of Budgam areas, one gets frustrated after seeing that there are hundreds of houses and commercial complexes that have been erected on agricultural land, somewhere brick kilns have got installed, and some where other structures which one fails to understand that who has gave them such kind of permissions.
Right from the Shalteng Srinagar to Magam and Tangmarag, the agricultural land has been converted into residential areas, and tall complexes have come up on both the sides of highway, said sources.
They said fact of the matter is that, one gets a view of residential and commercial structures on Srinagar-Gulmarag road, but the government is still watching this destruction as mute spectators.
If the same process remains unnoticed by the government and concerned departments, the day is not far that when Kashmir will be like other state of India where one hardly gets a way to walk in an open space, sources added. |
