WE THE PEOPLE
Despite Blanket Ban on Conversion of Cultivable areas, Process remains unchecked in Kashmir
Hence People demand implementation of judicial directions to save rest of paddy-growing areas
By: M. Shirjeel/MNS
SRINAGAR: It was on the basis of our repeated articles published in this newspaper regarding conversion of paddy-growing areas either into orchards or human settlements in Kashmir valley that the Division Bench of J&K High Court passed a landmark judgment, directing the state government to protect J&K Land Revenue Act and put a blanket ban on change of land pattern besides proceed against the Violators of the said Act. The then Divisional Commissioner Kashmir issued a circular immediately thereafter, directing all the Deputy Commissioners of the Valley to uphold the Act so that no conversion takes place in future. But violation of the Act continues due to clandestine role of a new crop of land-brokers in the valley.
No doubt, there has been population explosion in most of the countries of the world and Kashmir Valley is no exception to such a phenomenon. More the population, more the need for food to sustain human souls, but there has been a steady process of conversion of paddy land and low-lying areas into residential and commercial establishments in Kashmir. Who is responsible for such devastation is a moot question, but studies have revealed that a group of brokers has emerged in the Valley who have remained engaged in buying and selling paddy growing areas to people. It would not have been possible, but for the alleged nexus between them and the officials of Revenue Department. Not content with paddy growing areas, the brokers have allegedly got filled low-lying areas and put them on sale.
It needs to be reiterated that this newspaper right from 1996 attracted attention of the Government towards mass conversion of paddy growing areas, but no action was taken till the State Judiciary stepped in and issued directions to the Government to uphold J&K Land Revenue Act and set right the violations of the Act under an intimation to the Hon’ble Court.The Hon’ble Court dwelt at length on the pros and cons of the case and directed the State Government to submit reports to this effect regularly to the Court.
It was the duty of State functionaries to protect and preserve the land, which is meant for food production, but it is not so. Even the Central Government has been laying emphasis on `Grow More Food Scheme’ as it knows that there is a relationship between the population and food production, which has to be maintained at all costs. The agriculture scientists too have been impressed upon to devise ways and means for suggesting such seeds, which grow more food in a particular area. Lot of studies have been got conducted by the Central Ministry of Agriculture and even SKUAST scientists in Kashmir are understood to have undertaken studies in this regard. But what is the outcome of such studies is not visible at the ground level.
“There was a time when no one could afford to convert Abi- Awal and Abi-Doum areas into built-up areas, but with the passage of time such restrictions seem to have lost sanctity. Our Valley used to be self-sufficient in food and even rice would be exported to other parts of the country, but what is the present state of affairs is known to all. The State Government has engaged Food Corporation of India to supply rice as the State is totally deficient in food production. Why such a situation has risen is quite intriguing. Mass conversion of paddy growing areas is visible on either side of National Highway from Khanabal to Baramulla. The paddy growing areas of yesteryears present huge structures today. Such buildings are either residential or commercial. This shows the nexus between the lawmakers and law-breakers. Even the judicial directions seem to have been consigned to flames and all this is possible only in our land”, said a group of elderly persons of Kashmir Valley.
Hence people demand implementation of judicial directions to save rest of paddy-growing areas in Kashmir valley and a probe into shady deals of paddy-growing and low-lying areas in Kashmir Valley. A casual survey of paddy growing areas will establish beyond any shadow of doubt that J&K Land Revenue Act has been violated to the hilt. Equally filling-up low-lying areas runs counter to the hydraulic principles as such areas are supposed to act as absorption basins whenever water-bodies assume swollen conditions. With encroachment on such areas, the brokers have hastened doom to the people of Kashmir valley.
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