Mohammad Tahir
SRINAGAR: The ban on illegal constructions on Agricultural land is on papers only, but practically the process is going on with impunity across state, and government has failed to take any action against the violators.
In 2016 government had issued an order with policy regarding to change of land use, it was mentioned that land is not only an important factor of production but also the basic means of subsistence for majority of the people, said sources.
Sources while quoting the order said that unplanned constructions like rising of colonies, brick kilns, shopping complexes and other establishment has severely affected the agricultural husbandry of the state.
They said that “almost there is more than 1.40 crore population in Jammu and Kashmir, and almost 2, 22,236 sq km is the area of state, and if calculated one third of the area is under the population in Jammu and Kashmir, but still we don’t worry about the future consequences.”
Illegal constructions have been going on with impunity across the state and that too on the agricultural land but both the common masses and authorities concerned are turning deaf ear towards this burning issues, said sources.
Sources said that, many times authorities concerned had claimed that, the laws with regard to land use are being implemented in letter and spirit, but have they turned their eye towards some districts including Budgam, and Baramulla.
“Earlier several laws have been made and there are repeated directions of the high court but the state government has failed to stop the conversion of agricultural land into commercial and residential purposes,” they said.
Sources said that one gets frustrated after seeing that there are hundreds of houses and commercial complexes that have been erected on agricultural land, somewhere brick kilns have came up in Budgam district.
“Right from the Shalteng Srinagar to Magam and Tangmarag, the agricultural land has been converted into residential areas, and tall complexes have come up on both sides of highway,” said sources.
They said fact of the matter is that, one gets a view of residential and commercial structures on Srinagar-Gulmarag road, but the government is still watching this destruction as mute spectators.