Only official letters, ground situation remains unchanged
*Prolonged delay deepens uncertainty for industrial units
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 18: The administration appears increasingly hapless in retrieving prime industrial land from encroachers as official disclosures reveal years of inaction, incomplete possession, and stalled handovers in the key Bari Brahmana industrial belt.
During 2016, land measuring 522 kanals adjacent to Industrial Estate Bari Brahmana (Balole) was taken up for development by the J&K State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (SIDCO). The Board of Directors of SIDCO, in its 135th meeting held on August 3, 2017, directed the Corporation to fast-track development of the land and operationalize the waiting list of applicants in accordance with the J&K Industrial Policy.
Accordingly, allotments were initiated even prior to the formal transfer of land by the Revenue Department to the Industries and Commerce Department. Subsequently, pursuant to Administrative Council Decision No. 113/09/2023 dated November 25, 2023, followed by Government Order No. 200-JK(Rev) dated December 1, 2023, State land measuring 522 kanals was formally transferred to the Industries and Commerce Department.
However, out of this, only 236 kanals and 10 marlas at Industrial Estate Balole were formally handed over to SIDCO for further allotment to industrial units, the Minister Incharge Industries informed the Legislative Assembly in response to a question by MLA Chander Prakash.
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Shockingly, physical possession has been taken of only 86 kanals and 10 marlas. Of the 236 kanals and 10 marlas handed over, 150 kanals remain under encroachment and have not been made available to prospective entrepreneurs for establishment of industrial units.
In the reply, the Government has candidly admitted that encroachers are “still on the spot,” preventing SIDCO from proceeding further and thereby creating law and order issues. Thirty-seven units have been given possession of land for establishment of their industrial units after being cleared by the Single Window Clearance Committee. They have deposited 100% of the land premium before execution of the lease deed.
It has also been admitted by the Government that the remaining land measuring 285.5 kanals is yet to be handed over to the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Jammu, by the Revenue authorities.
As per the official records furnished to the MLA, SIDCO addressed multiple communications to the Deputy Commissioner, Samba, seeking eviction of encroachers. Despite these repeated requests and intervention sought from the District Magistrate, the encroachments continue.
The continued presence of illegal occupants has effectively stalled expansion plans in one of Jammu’s most crucial industrial hubs. Entrepreneurs, who invested in good faith, now face uncertainty, mounting project costs and prolonged delays.
The disclosure raises serious questions—why has the administration failed to clear encroachments for years? Why have over 285 kanals not been handed over despite formal Government orders? Who is accountable for delays affecting dozens of entrepreneurs?
“Bari Brahmana remains one of Jammu’s key industrial corridors. Instead of emerging as a symbol of industrial acceleration, it has become a victim of weak enforcement of law,” sources in SIDCO said, adding, “until encroachments are cleared and full possession is secured, the promise of ease of doing business will remain confined to policy documents”.
In the reply, the Government has stated that as soon as the patch of land is handed over to SIDCO, further allotments to entrepreneurs would be made. However, no timeline has been indicated for clearance of encroachments or completion of the formal handover process. With over 285 kanals still pending transfer and 150 kanals under illegal occupation, the absence of any deadline has raised serious concerns among industrial stakeholders.
“If no timeframe has been fixed for resolving the issue, questions arise as to when the long-pending expansion will actually materialize and who will be held accountable for the continued delay,” officials said.
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