Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar, Aug 8: Jammu & Kashmir food security was at the heart of a 49-year-old directive, under which Army and paramilitary forces required No-Objection Certificate (NoC) from State’s Home Department to acquire land.
Documents in possession of Precious Kashmir reveal that the directive was issued by the Revenue Department in 1971 to protect cultivable land in J&K.
“The purpose for obtaining this “No objection Certificate” is to protect cultivable lands for being used for any other purposes to conserve food production in the state,” reads the circular issued by then administrative secretary, Revenue , Sohan Kumar.
The directive was issued by the Revenue Department after Home department took up matter with it on May 10, 1971.
The circular, which was withdrawn last month by J&K government citing implementation of central land acquisition law, stated that acquisition of land by central and state agencies was hampering food production in the State. “Due to the increase in the tempo of development activities in respect of the implementation of five -year plans, large tracks of land including good cultivable lands are also acquired for various departments to which is affecting adversely the production of food grains in the state and hamper our efforts in achieving self-sufficiently,” the directive states.
The circular directed Deputy Commissioners to discourage acquisition of irrigated land by central organisations and agencies.
When contacted, Principal Secretary Revenue, Pawan Kotwal told Precious Kashmir that the circular was withdrawn as there are provisions of central land acquisition law, which has become applicable to J&K.
“The circular became redundant due to implementation of central law,” he said.
In an order issued on July 24 , the Revenue Department withdrew the circular, citing extension of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 to the UT.
