Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 28: In a testimony of lack of synchronization between organs of State Government, an important proposal of the Revenue Department regarding establishment of first ever State Revenue and Land Use Planning Board is gathering dust in the General Administration Department despite the fact that such a Board would go a long way in ensuring better land management, review of land use laws and saving agricultural lands from further degradation and shrinkage.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that framing of State Revenue and Land Use Planning Board was under discussion in the Government during the past several months as of-late it was felt that such a platform having representation of multiple departments would be of immense help in taking stock of present land use in the State and propose broad guidelines for optimum utilization.
Even on the floor of the State Legislature it was announced by the present PDP-BJP Coalition Government that a mechanism would be evolved to protect the State land and ensure its better management and use.
The plan about constitution of such a board was revealed by the Minister of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Syed Basharat Bukhari while reviewing the function of Revenue Department in Jammu and Samba districts in the beginning of current month. It was stated in the meeting by the Minister that State Revenue and Land Use Planning Board would be in place very shortly as draft of its composition as well as terms of reference and functioning of the Board have been prepared.
Accordingly, the proposal was submitted to the General Administration Department for issuance of formal orders as it is the domain of GAD to give practical shape to the proposals involving senior functionaries of different departments, sources said.
However, neither the General Administration Department has issued formal orders till date nor raised any query to be answered by the Revenue Department, sources regretted, adding the document submitted by the Revenue Department was inclusive and not much exercise was required to be conducted at the level of General Administration Department
“In this way the announcement of the Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation has remained confined to the statement only”, they said, adding “this is the testimony of lack of synchronization between different organs of the Government on the issue of immense importance”.
As per the proposal of the Revenue Department, Minister for Revenue shall be the Chairman of the Land Use Planning Board while as Administrative Secretaries of Revenue, Planning, Development and Monitoring, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Rural Development, Agriculture, Horticulture, Industries and Commerce, Tourism, Public Works, Information Technology Departments, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Director Soil Conservation and Vice-Chairmen of Jammu Development Authority and Srinagar Development Authority would be its members.
As per the terms of reference and functioning proposed by the Revenue Department, the Land Use Planning Board would formulate draft policy and broad guidelines to protect agricultural lands against degradation on account of soil erosion, water logging, loss of fertility and industrialization etc; review revenue laws with particular reference to the problems relating to consolidation of holdings with an intent to increase productivity of agricultural lands.
Moreover, it has been proposed that the board will lay down broad guidelines for optimum utilization of land reclaimed through implementation of flood protection schemes; create an informed public opinion in order to obtain their cooperation with regard to the matters concerning better land and water management; formulate housing policies for the rural areas for cluster type of construction or developing colonies by public-private participation so as to save agricultural lands from further degradation and shrinkage.
Even identification of problems and bottlenecks in bringing cultivable waste lands and fallow lands etc under crop production has also been reflected as domain of the Land Use Planning Board by the Revenue Department in its proposal, informed the sources in the General Administration Department who are privy to the proposal of the Revenue Department.
“Keeping in view the importance of Land Use Planning Board, the Revenue Minister is likely to take up the matter with the General Administration Department for prompt issuance of formal order following opening of Darbar at Jammu during next month”, sources said.
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