No compensation for border fencing paid to land owners in J

Srinagar, Aug 31 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir government today admitted the state assembly that no compensation was paid by the Army authorities to the owners for the land where the border was fenced However, the Army was regularly paying rental compensation for the land occupied by them in different parts of the state, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Taj Mohi-ud-Din told the house on behalf of Chief Minister.

Regarding acquisition land on the border, which had been fenced, the Minister said that no compensation has been paid to the affected land owners so far.

He said the proceedings for the acquisition are at the initial stage.

Mr Taj said that out of 2085 kanals of land acquired by the Army in Hiranagar in Jammu for construction of ditches and BSF outposts, rental compensation of Rs 3,60,109 per annum has been sanctioned for 1551 kanals of land at old rates for last four years and placed at the disposal of the Tehsildar concerned for its disbursement among the land owners.

The Minister was replying to a question by Girdhari Lal Chalotra and Ashwani Sharma in the house.

He said that regarding the rent compensation in respect of land measuring 251 kanals and 10 marlas, the rental compensation was stopped by Defence authorities for certain reasons and now the Defence Estates Officer, Jammu has been advised to release the pending rental compensation since July 3, 1996.

The Minister further informed that rental compensation in respect of land measuring 282 kanals and four marlas has been taken up with the Defence Estates Officer, Jammu for release of compensation from September 1, 1975.

Mr Taj said that rental compensation for requisitioned land of 98 kanals and 13 marlas situated at Ranjitpur in Bishnah tehsil by the Army is being paid to the land owners regularly on an year to year basis.

Similarly the rental compensation for the years 2005-06 amounting to Rs 73,988 has been kept at the disposal of the Tehsildar Bishnah for further disbursement to the concerned land owners.

UNI