Ownership rights to state land occupants in J

Srinagar, May 21 (UNI) In a major decision the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to give ownership rights to people who have constructed houses on three to four malras of government land in the state.

The state government has also formed a committee to investigate in a couple of months the illegal construction of brick klins, houses and other buildings in the state.

Taking into consideration all aspects and other reasons, the state cabinet, which met here last night under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, decided to extend the Roshni scheme benefits to people who have constructed residential houses on three to four malras of state land, chief secretary B R Kundal told reporters here today.

He said it will be free of cost since these people are not in a position to pay the cost of the land as per the Roshni scheme.

There are several cases where people have constructed houses for self use on the land, he said adding that they too would not be charged for the land under the scheme.

Jammu and Kashmir government has transferred ownership rights of lakhs of kanals of state land to thousands of people under the Roshni scheme.

Mr Kundal said the cabinet took a serious note of illegal construction of brick klins, houses and other structures in the state.

The cabinet expressed concern over the construction of houses on paddy and other fields.

He said the committee has been directed to identify these violations and report to the cabinet within a couple of months.

He said action against the violators would be taken under the Land Revenue Act and Urban Development Act.

When a reporter said about 600 illegal brick klins were constructed in the central Kashmir district of Badgam and the authorities did not take any action, the chief secretary said the employees would also be punished for negligence in their duties.

UNI BAS SK HS1405