It is good to see judiciary take stand against illegal conversion of agriculture land into commercial property. In a place like Kashmir where per hectare yield has gone down considerably during last one decade preserving the fertile agriculture land becomes imperative. It is an investment which will ensure a secure future.
Recently, acting on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO calling for a ban on the conversion of agrarian land into residential land, J&K High Court stayed the construction of a private housing colony in Baramullah district.
In last two decades, agriculture land mostly around river Jhelum, which is the most fertile belt in valley, saw massive unchecked and unplanned construction activity. These illegal structures, usually raised using loopholes in the system, have no planning or pattern whatsoever. In most of the cases people first converted agriculture land into residential colonies and then pressed authorities for basic amenities like water, electricity, sewage, transport etc.
After Second World War most of the present day developed countries in Europe faced same challenges as large number of people got displaced in war and settled in areas not notified for residential purpose. Keeping in view the prevailing global food crises, in last six decades Europe has slowly but considerably expanded its land area under agriculture.
But unfortunately in Kashmir where 70 per cent of the population is directly or indirectly associated with agriculture and its allied sector is fast losing its farmland to commercial activity. The contribution of agriculture and its allied sector in GDP has seen a negative trend. As per the J&K Economic Survey 2011-12, the area under agriculture in J&K has shrunk from 9.26 lakh hectares in 2000-01 to 9.23 lakh hectares in 2010-11, thus registering a decrease of 0.041 per cent in a decade.
However, the housing needs arising from increase in population cannot be overlooked either. But this can be tackled by adopting western model of housing development which is designed in accordance with the expected growth rate of population. Government should develop new residential areas using non-agriculture land and provide them with all the basic facilities like clean drinking water, electricity, transport connectivity, market access, health care, schools etc, to attract people. The permission for fresh construction should not be granted unless proven that the land used is not agrarian.
There should be tough regulation against conversion of land in both rural and urban areas to discourage people from using farmlands for commercial or residential purpose.
Given the present global food crisis if measures are not taken soon then we will end up being dependent on outsiders for our survival.
