Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 31: Minister for Cooperatives, Javid Ahmad Dar, today informed the House that the Cooperative department has stepped up efforts to safeguard the cooperative assets across Jammu and Kashmir besides undertaking broader reforms to strengthen this vital sector.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Narinder Singh Raina, the Minister said that as per the latest assessment, the cooperative institutions own 728 kanal of land, of which, 694 kanal is in possession while 36 kanal and 12 marla (around 5%) is under illegal encroachment.
The Minister informed that in the Kashmir Division, about 12 kanal and 16 marla of cooperative land is affected, with cases reported from Baramulla, Bandipora and Srinagar, involving litigation, legacy occupation and local disputes.
Similarly, in the Jammu Division, around 23 kanal and 8.5 marla of cooperative land is under encroachment across Jammu, Kathua and Kishtwar districts, mainly due to demarcation issues, documentation gaps and ongoing court cases, he said.
Javid Dar added that the department is actively pursuing legal remedies and coordinating with the district authorities for recovery of the encroached land, though ongoing litigation has slowed down eviction and retrieval in several cases.
Highlighting structural reforms, Javid Ahmad Dar said the Government has initiated a comprehensive reform process to address issues in the cooperative legal framework. He added that the proposed reforms aim to make a robust legislation with stronger audit provisions, improved accountability and uniform governance standards, which will significantly strengthen the functioning of cooperative institutions and safeguard the cooperative assets.
Minister assured the House that the Government will take all necessary measures to safeguard the Cooperative Society land and ensure that illegal encroachments are addressed strictly in accordance with the law.
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