SRINAGAR: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra has expressed hope that the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will take measures to waive the change of land use (CLU) criteria for the sale of small land plots intended for house construction in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a public meeting at Marh Bagh in the Marh Assembly Constituency, Sadhotra highlighted the financial distress faced by people in Jammu and Kashmir over the past decade due to prolonged misgovernance and economic hardships. He said that many families have been forced to sell portions of their land to finance their children’s education and meet essential medical and marriage expenses. However, restrictions on land use change have prevented such transactions, affecting both landowners and the housing sector.
He pointed out that many land parcels, especially those that have fallen under municipal limits, can no longer be cultivated but cannot be sold due to stringent regulations. The inability to obtain revenue records has further complicated matters, depriving owners of their right to legally sell their land.
Sadhotra emphasised that housing needs have increased significantly in recent years due to population growth and expanding family sizes. The inability of small landowners to use their land for construction has made the waiver of land use change regulations even more necessary. He assured the public that he would seek the intervention of the chief minister to relax these restrictions and allow small landowners to sell their properties for legitimate purposes, including housing and financial sustenance.
Reaffirming the National Conference’s commitment to social and economic justice, he also called for the early release of compensation to farmers whose land has been acquired for the Jammu Ring Road project, stating that delays have forced many to consider legal recourse.
Sadhotra reiterated that the National Conference has always been a pro-people and pro-farmer party, citing the historic Land Reforms Act introduced by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, which granted ownership rights to poor farmers. He expressed confidence that the government would take urgent measures to address these pressing land issues in the interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
