On different occasions different figures have been quoted and reported as regards J&K State Land (Vesting of Ownership Rights to the Occupants) Act 2001, but things that should matter and are revealing are (I) a large chunk of land has been given to the occupants / encroachers almost free of cost ( Just Rs.100 per Kanal ) and (II) the revenue target of Rs.25000 crore has no relevance under the existing Act / rules. So, the figures being quoted here need be taken just as indicative.
During year 2011 budget session of J&K legislature, the government revealed that it had approved ownership rights over 6, 75, 230 kanals of land in the state under various categories at an approved cost of Rs 303 crore. However the returns have been just Rs 72 crore. While 32, 238 kanals of land in 10 districts of Kashmir (excluding Ladakh division) have raised Rs 52.20 crore against approved cost of Rs 114.53 crore, the situation is dismal in Jammu region where government has got just Rs 20.70 crore against 6,42,992 kanals of land against the approved cost of Rs 189.46 crore. But the Government has still maintained that 20, 25,083 kanals of state land was under occupation in Jammu and Kashmir (16, 02,148 kanals in Jammu region and 4, 22,935 kanals in Kashmir valley) ; and by the then government had so far received over 2.60 lakh applications for proprietary rights over 17, 57,581 kanals of encroached state land.
The shortfall in realised revenue over the estimated and billed revenue could be mainly due to three reasons (I) Land given as Agricultural land at no cost (II) Beneficiaries have not made payment against the demand notes raised by revenue department. (III) Some cases are still pending for evaluation due to delayed submission or other incompleteness. Where the beneficiaries have not responded, the Revenue authorities should have taken action against the defaulter occupant as per rules.
Whereas the shortfall due to free land to agriculturists has to be well acknowledged and rather if at all detailed investigation is to be conducted it has to be with regard to agriculture land transfers since there could be more possibility of misappropriations.
As per some data published in the media quoting official sources in Poonch district till 2011, land approved for transfer to occupants was 119154 Kanal whereas total cost of land approved was just 0.14 crore ( 14 Lac i.e Rs.11 per Kanal only) and the amount realised was just Rs 0.06 crore.
Similarly in Rajouri district land approved for transfer to occupants was 272148 Kanal where as total cost of land approved was just Rs.2.02 crore (Rs.74 per kanal only ) and the amount realised was just Rs 0.39 crore. For Doda land approved for transfer to occupants was 35865 Kanal where as total cost of land approved was just 0.63 crore (Rs.175 per kanal) and the amount realised was just Rs 0.39 Cr . In Udhampur land approved for transfer to occupants was 90607 where as total cost of land approved was just 2.71 crore (Rs.299 per kanal) and the amount realised was just Rs 1.17 Cr. In Ganderbal district land approved for transfer to occupants was 809 Kanal where as total cost of land approved was just 0.0081 crore (0.81 lac i.e Rs.100 per kanal) and the amount realised was just Rs 0.06 crore.
The average per kanal in these districts has been so low because almost all / large quantity was under agriculture category and the AGs audit should have taken audit in these districts for violation and codes and rules.
As regards Jammu district the land approved for transfer to occupants was 42917 kanal where as total cost of land approved was 174.19 Cr ( Rs.40587 per Kanal) and the amount realised was just Rs 15.77 Cr ; in Samba land approved for transfer to occupants was 8454 Kanal where as total cost of land approved was just 6.08 crore ( Rs.7191 per Kanal) and the amount realised was just Rs 1.92 Cr; in Kathua District land approved for transfer to occupants was 25894 Kanal where as total cost of land approved was just 2.69 crore ( Rs.1038 per Kanal) and the amount realised was just Rs 0.34 Cr; in Ramban District land approved for transfer to occupants was 18651 Kanal where as total cost of land approved was just 0.26 crore ( 26 Lac i.e Rs.139 per Kanal) and the amount realised was just Rs 0.19 Cr.
So, it appears that the statutory audit need to work more and start review by taking the cases of land, particularly in districts like Rajouri, Poonch, Gandarbal etc where there is more of agriculture land transfer and very less residential land cases. –Daya Sagar
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