Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) set up by the United Nations in 2015 are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030. Through SDGs the nations are likely to address challenges which include poverty, inequality, climate change, peace , justice and environmental degradation. Economic growth, environmental protection and social inclusion are three core elements of sustainable development. Climate change , environmental degradation and sustainable agriculture are the important aspects of SDG’s. Environmental sustainability can only be achieved when we ensure increased investments in renewable energy, saving water, supporting sustainable mobility, and innovation in sustainable construction and architecture.
According to the national review report on the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) in India, the opening statement of which begins with Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, a Sanskrit phrase whose literal meaning is “the world is one family”. PM Modi in his statement at UN during SDG summit in 2015 said :
” The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are thus part and parcel of the country’s longstanding tradition and heritage. Indeed, the goals substantially reflect the development agenda of India. Much of India’s development agenda is mirrored in the Sustainable Development Goals. Our national plans are ambitious and purposeful; Sustainable development of one-sixth of humanity will be of great consequence to the world and our beautiful planet.”
Amendment in JK land laws
On October 26th 2020 in exercise of the powers conferred by section 96 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 the Central Government issued an order called the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Third Order, 2020.Through this order several land laws of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir were repealed or amended. Some of the amended or repealed laws include J&K Land Revenue Act , Tenancy Act , Agrarian Reforms Act , Big Landed Estates Abolition Act, Common Lands Act , Consolidation of holdings Act , Flood plain zones Act, Land grants Act.
J&K Land Revenue Act 1996 and J&K Development Act 1970 were amended in such a way that certain provisions were incorporated in these laws and some other laws as well to pave way for non J&K residents to buy land and property in Jammu & Kashmir which is already a land deficit place. As on ground the land holding per family is not more than 3 kanals in J&K and this is shown at higher side in 2015-16 agriculture census (0.55 hectares) which means 10 kanals or more which is not at all true. Framers of J&K come under the category of marginal farmers. The national average land holding is 1.25 hectares ( 25kanals or more). In a place where there is already scarcity of land, how can the Govt allow outsiders to buy land in Jammu &Kashmir ? In future we will have scarcity of food grains , even now J&K imports 50 to 60 % of food grains, if Govt allows more and more people to settle here what would be the condition of J&K after 30 years ? Directorate of Economics and Statistics in its several reports has shown constant decline of production of food grains in J&K particularly rice. These arbitrary decisions not only violate many laws of the land but this goes completely against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the policy adopted by Govt is completely un-sustainable and not at all environment friendly.
Violation of Land use Policy
The decisions taken by the Government by amending or repealing Jammu & Kashmir’s land laws violates the National Land Use Policy 2013. The preamble of the national land utilization policy makes it clear that land is the most important component of the life support system. The operative part of the preamble under sub heading use of land must be judicious reads as :
“There is a need for optimal utilization of land resources. The country can no longer afford to neglect land, the most important natural resource, so as to ensure sustainability and avoid adverse land use conflicts. There is a need to cater land for industrialization and for development of essential infrastructure facilities and for urbanization. While at the same time, there is a need to ensure high quality delivery of services of ecosystems that come from natural resource base and to cater to the needs of the farmers that enable food security, both of which are of vital significance for the whole nation”
By transferring 24000 kanals of land for industrial growth not only violates SDG’s but also the National Land Use policy. The Government is planning to transfer the same amount of forest land for industrial growth which is totally against all environmental laws. By transferring such a huge chunk of land to set up pollution causing industries, the Govt is pushing the residents of Jammu & Kashmir towards dark ages. J&K which imports rice and pulses from Punjab and other states will be made further dependent on them which will have a direct impact on our economy. Jammu & Kashmir in fact needs green development. We need to set up research institutions for Ayurveda and Unani medicine. I remember when PM Modi came to Jammu for campaigning during 2014 elections , he spoke high about Jammu & Kashmir’ s mountains and herbal wealth. He said there is huge potential to produce herbal medicines and allied aromatic plants, but till date very little has been done in this regard and now the Govt is planning to set up industries that will cause disaster. Why can’t industries be set up to explore herbal wealth in Pirpanjaal mountains or creating agri based industries in J&K ? or to ensure mass production of Rajma in Ramban, Kishtwar or Bhaderwah areas ? Govt instead is planning to get people in J&K to allot them land in industrial estates while local jobless youth will be left at God’s mercy ?
Tenants are now occupants
If Govt believes in the philosophy of World is one family ie Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or Sabka saath sabka vikas why are people of Jammu & Kashmir being pushed to the wall ? When Ladakhi’s resisted against similar laws and threatened to boycott the recent hill council elections , their representatives were taken into confidence and assured they would get protection under 6th schedule of constitution. Instead of strengthening the land revenue laws like Jammu & Kashmir Tenancy Act 1923 enacted by visionary Maharaja Hari Singh, Govt has repealed it along with several other land laws. Maharaja who gave protection to tenants under the J&K Tenancy Law be it hindu ,muslim or a sikh are now called Occupants under new land laws. This is an insult to those protected tenants who were allotted land and property under the said law in Jammu or Kashmir valley. The protected tenants are not the occupants in Ladakh, because said law has not been changed there ? This is really unfair and unjust.
Conclusion
On one hand BJP leadership in Jammu & Kashmir claims to be protector of Dogra identity and is propagating the legacy of Maharaja Hari Singh , but when laws enacted by Maharaja were repealed or amended the leadership remained mute spectators. If things continue like this by 2030 instead of achieving sustainable development goals (SDG’s) people in Jammu & Kashmir will be pushed into a never-ending environmental disaster.
(The author is Chairman of J&K RTI Movement. )
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