Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 28: State Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah tomorrow morning, will accord approval to the modifications in the Prime Minister’s Package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmir migrants and promulgation of fresh ordinance on Underground Public Utilities (Acquisition of Rights of User in Land). The Cabinet is also likely to give nod to the inclusion of 45 villages in the list of backward areas.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Cabinet would accord approval to two modifications in the package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, which were unanimously agreed to in the Apex Advisory Committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on September 6, 2013. Following the Cabinet nod, the recommendations would be forwarded to the Government of India.
The first modification pertains to the inclusion of all families in the ambit of package whether they have sold their property or not after 1997, sources said. As per the existing package only those families are entitled for incentive for construction/reconstruction of houses who have either not sold their houses or have sold before 1997 and such families who have sold their houses after enactment of J&K Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection and Restraint on Distress Sales) Act, 1997, are not entitled for such incentive.
According to the details available with the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, more than 5500 sales have taken place after 1997 and there are number of sales which have taken place on the basis of power of attorney for which records are not available, sources said. “These figures clearly indicate that there will be huge number of families who would not be entitled for the incentive for construction of houses available under the package and such families would face difficulty in getting resettled in the Valley”, they added.
“In view of the large number of families who have sold their properties after 1997, it has been proposed to modify the condition of the earlier package and include these families as well in the ambit of the package for availing incentive for construction/re-construction of houses”, they said, adding “this will make the package more attractive and help the migrants in taking a decision for returning to Valley”.
Disclosing that the second modification pertains to cluster accommodation, sources said, “around 65% migrant families are without any immovable property in the Valley and for their smooth settlement after their return they would require proper accommodation or land for construction of houses”, adding “it is neither possible nor permissible for the Government to provide accommodation to each individual family who would return to Valley”.
“As discussed in the Apex Advisory Committee meeting, migrants after returning to Valley want to re-settle in clusters where they will feel secure and have sense of security. Moreover, the migrant employees who have been appointed under the package can settle in such clusters”, they said, adding “it has been decided that the Deputy Commissioners will be asked to identify land near all District Headquarters so that plots can be made available to migrant families who can raise construction either on individual or through a Group Housing Society”.
This, according to the sources, will help the families to resettle in such districts where from they had migrated. “Following the Cabinet approval to the proposed modifications the Government of India will be approached for incorporation of the same in the package. The Union Government will also be requested for incorporating the land acquisition component in the package and release of funds”, sources added.
According to the sources, the Cabinet will also accord sanction to the proposal of the Social Welfare Department regarding inclusion of 45 villages in the list of backward areas. The inclusion of these villages has been recommended by the Commission for Backward Classes.
Majority of these villages fall in Kulgam district while as others are in Pulwama, Anantnag, Jammu, Baramulla, Doda, Ramban and Budgam districts.
The Cabinet will also give nod to the re-promulgation of J&K Kashmir Underground Public Utilities (Acquisition of Rights of User in Land) Ordinance. The date of earlier Ordinance on the same had expired recently. The Ordinance pertains to laying of gas pipeline by the Gujarat State Petronet Limited.
The promotion of IFS officer A K Singh to the level of PCCF with effect from February 1, 2013 instead of March 1, 2013 and grant of pay scale to four Superintending Engineers namely Santokh Singh, V K Raina, P N Gupta and Gajan Singh at par with District and Sessions Judges is also likely to receive the Cabinet approval.
Cabinet will also accord sanction to the appointment of Dr Rafiq Ahmad Pampori, Professor and Head, Department of ENT, as Principal Government Medical College Srinagar with effect from October 1, 2012. Dr Pampori is holding the charge of the post of Principal ever since the superannuation of Dr Qazi Masood on September 30, 2013.
The regularization of Dr Abdul Kabir Dar as Director, Indian Systems of Medicine against the available post with effect from October 12, 2006 will also receive the Cabinet’s approval, sources said. They didn’t rule out Cabinet ordering some transfers in the Civil Administration in order to fill up the post of Director, Information Department.
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