Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 17: Terming Revenue Department as the backbone for successful administration, Minister for Revenue, Hajj & Auqaf and Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Rehman Veeri today said that timely and relevant interventions are important to keep up with the times and ensuring healthy public service delivery.
The Department is consistently evaluating various land reform schemes, changing developmental strategies and taking necessary steps to strengthen the department.
“The process of preparation of Records-of-Rights with the introduction of latest technology and replacing age old chain system with the metric system is one of major initiatives to upgrade the public service delivery in the state,” the Minister said while replying to the discussion on Demand for Grants of Revenue, Hajj & Auqaf and Parliamentary Affairs Departments in the Legislative Assembly.
Welcoming the relevant points raised during the discussion, the Minister said that inputs from legislators present the on-ground needs of public and are essential to help department achieve progressive growth.
With regard to the initiatives announced for the department in the Budget 2018-19, the Minister thanked Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and the Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu for recognizing the concerns of the department especially in respect of mobility of various field officers. He expressed gratitude for budgetary announcements including keeping provision of Rs 10 crore for infrastructure improvement, creation of Revenue Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). “This fund will go a long way in filling the infrastructural gap in the field”, he added.
With regard to operationalization of newly created Administrative Units in the State, the Minister said that to make these units functional, 140 Girdawars were assigned the charge of Naib Tehsildars as stop-gap arrangement and similarly 49 Naib Tehsildars were placed as Tehsildars as stop gap arrangement.
Further to strengthen the department’s field presence, the department has referred 51 posts of Tehsildars to JKPSC and 156 posts of NTs to JKSSB, the Minister said adding that process for filling up of promotion quota posts will also be taken up at the earliest.
Regarding land acquisition process for proposed Ring Roads in Jammu and Srinagar, the Minister informed that 123 villages fall in the alignment of the proposed Ring Roads and area of around 12000 kanals approximately is required for these projects. 105 declarations/awards have been issued in respect of Ring Roads and National Highway 44 by the Department, he said.
For establishment of Patwar Khanas, all Deputy Commissioners have been directed to identify 5 marlas of land in each Patwar Halqa, besides submitting a proposal for rationalization of the existing Patwar Halqas, the Minister informed.
“The digitization of land records under comprehensive initiative, Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) is also being undertaken in a phased manner to bring much needed transparency in land mapping at individual and institutional level”, the Minister informed. In Phase-I, Jammu and Srinagar district will be covered as part of which a total of 16461087 Revenue documents have been scanned and total of 39,920 Revenue maps have been scanned, 447 maps digitized and 4594 Ground Control Points (GCPs) have been installed.
Regarding implementation of J&K State Lands (Vesting of Ownership Rights to the Occupants) Act, in the State, the Minister informed that the said Act is implemented across state except Leh and Kargil Districts. Around 200053 applications were received in various offices out of which 10073 applications stand disposed of, he said.
Regarding functioning of Evacuee Property Department, the Minister said that strenuous efforts are undertaken for retrieval of land, besides, the Department has also prioritized various projects as desired by Chief Minister to be taken in hand for execution in Phase–I for the year 2018-19 including construction of Community Hall in Samba, residential flats at Dhamwal in Jammu, office cum shopping complex at Sunderbani and residential flats at Purkhoo in Jammu, he said.
In Kashmir, the proposed projects are construction of residential flats at Hyderpora and Zewan in Srinagar, community hall at Harwan and marriage hall at Indira Nagar. EP Department has generated income to the tune of Rs 80 crore in Jammu and Rs 77 crore in Kashmir division, he added.
Veeri informed that a committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary to look into arrears of outstanding dues against various government and other organizations.
While participating in discussion, MLA Khanyar and former Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar stressed for strengthening the newly constituted administrative units. He said that there was lack of facilities in the health, power and education sectors in the State which need to be addressed by paying special focus on these key sectors.
Congress MLA and former Minister for Revenue, Aijaz Khan stressed the need for big reforms to streamline the system in Revenue Department. He also demanded strengthening of the newly created administrative units and warned that if the same was not done on priority basis, the Government would have to face anger of the people.
Another former Minister for Revenue, Hakeem Mohammad Yasin, while taking part in discussion, also demanded amendment in the Roshni Act and developing a proper mechanism to ensure payment of compensation before acquisition of land. He demanded early sanctioning of pending compensation to owners whose land has been acquired for construction of schools, hospitals, roads and other developmental projects.
MLA Pulwama Mohammad Khalil Band, wile referring to bestowing of ownership of Kahcharai land to farmers, said that the policy has not been properly implemented in Pulwama constituency. He urged the Government to revisit in the process to do justice with the genuine farmers.
Choudhary Sukhnandan called for restarting the process of compensation to the owners whose land has been acquired for Jammu Ring road project.
M Y Tarigami underscored the need for transparency in Patwar Khanas. He called for speeding up digitalization of revenue records which he said will help to bring in transparency in the system.
Main Altaf Ahmad called upon Revenue Minister to hold at least two meetings at District Headquarter to review the disposal of the compensation cases and streamlining the system. He also asked the Government to provide compensation to fire victims within a week’s time so that they could not face more hardships.
Bashir Ahmad Dar, while taking part in the discussion, asked the Government to ensure regular monitoring of Patwar Khanas and protection of Waqaf property of the State.
Javid Hassan Beigh, also stressed for early computerization to ensure transparency in the Revenue Department.
Pawan Kumar Gupta, alleged un-necessary delay in preparing State subject by the eligible persons and demanded that necessary instruction should be passed on in this regard.
Rajesh Gupta raised the issue of Evacuee Property tenants who are living in these properties for last 70 years and deserve to be given ownership rights. He suggested for constituting a committee to look into the demand. He said the pending rent charged from the families living in EP houses should be recovered in installments.
Deldan Namgyal, while taking part in the discussion, demanded speedy disposal of applications seeking PRCs. He said that the people of his constituency, where the population widely is scattered, face great hardships in getting Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) as every time they have to walk several miles to know about the status of their applications.
Mohammad Akbar Lone, while taking part in the discussion, asked the Government to ensure the accountability of the Revenue staff including Patwari, Girdwar, Naib Tehsildar and Tehsildars.
MLA Hiranagar Kuldeep Raj urged the government for early release of compensation in favour of the people living in border areas of his Constituency whose property was damaged due to cross border shelling. He also pleaded for redressal of their issues.
MLA Abdul Rahim Rather said that the Committee on Ethics of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly recently toured to Karnataka State on study tour and were surprised to see that each Committee have separate room there. He urged government to have a similar infrastructure in J&K State.
R S Pathania sought separate offices for each legislator and government residential accommodation at their respective constituencies.
Mohammad Amin Bhat also supported the demand for provision of government office and residential accommodation for the legislators. He demanded for convening of Departmental Promotion Committee meetings in Revenue Department.
G M Saroori, while taking part in the discussion, sought written response from the government on the points raised by the legislators during Zero Hour in the Assembly.
Choudhary Qamar Hussain, Shamima Firdous, Javid Ahmad Rana, Vikar Rasool Wani, Asgar Ali Karbalie, Usman Majid, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, Shah Mohammad Tantray, Raja Manzoor Ahmad, Mubarak Gul, Abdul Majid Larmi and Yawar Ahmad Mir also participated in the debate.
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