KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
The Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Syed Basharat Bukhari today informed the House that several reformative initiatives have been taken to ensure Transparency, Accountability and effective implementation of Public Service Guarantee Act, besides constituting of State Revenue and Land Use Planning Board for effective use of land resources.
Winding up the discussion on demand of grants of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Departments, the Minister said that the State Revenue and Land Use Planning Board comprising of experts would be tasked to use scientific methods for identifying land for different purposes like housing, horticulture, agriculture, industries, brick kilns etc. He said that it will help preserving land resources besides ensuring its judicious use in every sector, an official spokesperson said this evening.
The Minister informed the House that the Prime Minister of India announced a Reconstruction Plan for the State of J&K on November 7, 2015 which among other components includes a component of “Additional Financial Assistance to the affectees of September-2014 floods under PMDP-2015”.
He said that Rs 206 crore has been disbursed under SDRF norms, Rs 566 crore under PMNRF, Rs 957 under PMDP-2015 besides Rs 800 crore earmarked as interest subvention for affected traders.
The Minister said that the department is working on framing a comprehensive Rehabilitation Policy for the entire state that will have a budgetary support. He said that policy will go a long way in taking care of any loss happening due to future natural calamity/disaster.
Regarding rehabilitation of displaced persons of POK and Chamb, the Minister said that the Reconstruction Plan, among other elements, includes a component of “Rehabilitation Package for one time settlement of 36384 families for POK and Chamb DPs (Displaced Persons)” for which an allocation of Rs.2000 crore has been provided.
The Minister said that relief and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants has focused attention of government. He said that among other things the government has constructed shops for migrants at Jagti township, bifurcation of ration cards has been simplified, construction of 40 bedded Hospital at Jagti, Nagrota and Construction of Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at Jagti. In addition to it filling of 3,000 supernumerary posts under PMs package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants has been initiated and the same will also include those KPs who have not migrated. He also announced payment of cash assistance and ration to Jammu migrants at par with Kashmiri migrants.
Regarding Custodian Department, the Minister said that the department has huge assets and government is committed to utilize it for the benefit of all. Regarding encroachments he said that about 500 kanals of land has been retrieved during last 4 months. He said that the officials have been asked to give complete detail of land under Custodian Department with self attestation from Custodians and Custodian General. He said that all the details would be put on the website soon. He announced that a Committee of experts headed by Director EDI has been constituted, which will suggest measure for effective utilization and productive use of Custodian Property. He also said that 1800 kanals of orchards on custodian land will be converted into High Density fruit plants to maximize its revenue.
“Rs. 120 crore are outstanding against different department/ organizations, estate department and we will soon initiate talks to recover the dues from the departments,” said the Minister.
The Minister said that the department has launched as ambitious Digital India Land Record Modernisation Programme under which 2.21 lakh revenue pages have been scanned and digitized. He said that the digitalization is underway in Jammu and Srinagar districts which will be further expanded to five more districts. Once the entire work is completed mutations will be done online and registration of sale deeds will also be done online, he further added.
The Minister also said that the issuance of Permanent Resident Certificates would be simplified but with strong deterrence to avoid its misuse.
To ensure Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA) is implemented in letter and spirit, the minister said that the Act will be amended soon to make its implementation more effective.
He said that regarding removal of encroachment of land, Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners have been tasked to fix quarterly targets for every tehsil, Naib tehsildar, Girdawar and Patawari.
Later, the House passed the grants of Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation, Hajj and Auqaf, for the year 2016-17, which were moved by the Minister, amounting to Rs 208959.23 lakhs with voice vote.
