SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured the Legislative Assembly on Sunday that the government would assess and address the concerns of landowners whose properties fall within the border and Line of Control (LoC) fencing zones. He confirmed that a meeting with representatives of these affected areas would be convened after the conclusion of the current assembly session in early April.
Intervening during the Question Hour, Abdullah stated that the government has been actively disbursing compensation to landowners. Of the Rs 155 crore received, Rs 144 crore has already been distributed, with the remaining Rs 11 crore set to be released soon. “While individual concerns persist, we are committed to ensuring that the funds reach the rightful landowners at the earliest,” he said.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that the issue extends beyond financial compensation, calling it a “humanitarian concern” that demands comprehensive government attention. He assured members that once the legislative session concludes, a formal discussion will be held with all representatives from the border and LoC areas to determine further necessary actions.
Earlier, responding to a query from MLA Vijay Kumar, Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo, speaking on behalf of the Chief Minister, revealed that 13,415 kanals of land across 113 villages in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts have been acquired by the Border Security Force (BSF) for fencing.
Itoo informed the House that Rs 155.08 crore has been allocated as compensation, of which Rs 144.12 crore has been disbursed, while the remaining amount is pending due to title verification processes. The government, she assured, is working towards expediting these verifications to ensure swift disbursement to the remaining landowners.
