SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Defence has sanctioned the transfer of 147 kanals and 11 marlas of land at Rakh Bahu, adjoining the University of Jammu’s main campus, to the Jammu and Kashmir administration, paving the way for a major expansion of the university’s academic and infrastructure facilities.
The land, which has remained under Army occupation for more than five decades, is being released as part of a land-exchange arrangement under which the Jammu and Kashmir administration will transfer 2,124 kanals and 17 marlas of land to the Army at Nagrota Military Station.
The sanction has been conveyed through an official communication issued by the Ministry of Defence to the Chief of Army Staff and the Director General Defence Estates, with the concurrence of the Ministry’s Finance wing. The communication conveys the President’s sanction for handing over possession of the Rakh Bahu land to the Union Territory administration for public infrastructure requirements.
The 2,124 kanals and 17 marlas being transferred to the Army comprises 2,062 kanals and 17 marlas in Nagrota tehsil, under the jurisdiction of the Defence Estates Officer, Udhampur, and another 62 kanals in Jammu tehsil under the Defence Estates Officer, Jammu. The entire parcel is to be transferred in favour of the Army at Nagrota Military Station.
The transfer of the land adjoining the University of Jammu, however, is subject to the UT administration first issuing the requisite transfer order for the 2,124 kanals and 17 marlas in favour of the Ministry of Defence/Army. The Defence Estates Office, Jammu, will hand over possession of the 147 kanals and 11 marlas only after completion of this process.
The Ministry has also stipulated that the cost of reconstruction of any assets affected by the land exchange will be borne by the Jammu and Kashmir government. The arrangement was earlier discussed at the Civil Military Liaison Conference held on September 29, 2015, under the chairmanship of the then Chief Minister.
The Defence Estates Offices at Udhampur and Jammu have been directed to take further necessary action in accordance with the decision.
The issue dates back to 1973, when the then state government allotted land at Rakh Bahu for establishment of the University of Jammu. A portion of the allotted land, however, remained under Army possession, leaving the university with limited scope for expansion in an area adjoining its main campus.
Successive university administrations and the government continued to pursue the matter with the concerned authorities. The issue received renewed momentum during the tenure of Vice-Chancellor Prof Umesh Rai, who took it up with the Ministry of Defence and pursued it in coordination with the JK administration, defence authorities and other stakeholders.
The University said the process also received crucial support and intervention from Lok Bhawan, Jammu and Kashmir.
Welcoming the Ministry of Defence’s decision, Prof Rai described it as a “historic step” towards meeting the university’s future academic and developmental requirements.
“The availability of the land will help us plan future development in a more systematic manner and create the infrastructure required for our students, scholars and faculty,” he said.
Prof Rai expressed gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also Chancellor of the University of Jammu, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Indian Army for their support in resolving the long-pending issue.
He also acknowledged the role of Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, the Commissioner Secretary of the Higher Education Department, local defence authorities, civil society and other stakeholders.
“Bringing a matter of this nature to its present stage required sustained coordination among different institutions and authorities, and the University deeply appreciates the support it has received from all concerned,” Prof Rai said.
The Vice-Chancellor also acknowledged the efforts of his predecessors and successive university administrations that had pursued the matter over the years.
The university plans to utilise the additional land for expanding academic and research infrastructure, innovation facilities and student amenities as part of its long-term development plans.
The latest sanction clears a major hurdle in the decades-old dispute, although the physical transfer of the land will follow only after the Jammu and Kashmir administration completes the stipulated transfer of the replacement land to the Ministry of Defence.
