Jammu, Feb 12: Over 3,000 people in Jammu and Kashmir whose land was taken for government water supply projects are yet to receive compensation, with the administration now contending that much of the land was “donated” and that some families were given casual jobs in lieu of cash.
In a written reply in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, the Jal Shakti department, as per Kashmir Convener, provided a district-wise break-up showing that 3,060 of the 5,457 individuals whose land was utilised for water reservoirs, filtration plants and allied works are still awaiting payment.
The government told the House that in many cases, the land was never formally acquired. “In many cases, land has been donated to the department and even mutations have been attested,” the reply, tabled in response to a question by National Conference legislator Javid Hassan Baig, said.
The Baramulla list
In an unusual step, the department appended to its reply a full list of 104 landowners from Baig’s Baramulla constituency whose land was taken. The annexure details each individual’s name, village, the exact area of land taken — in some cases as small as one marla — and the official reason for non-payment of compensation.
For 103 of these 104 people, the reason cited is that one family member was given engagement as a casual or seasonal labourer “in lieu of his donated land”. The column for compensation paid is marked “Not applicable”.
The lone exception is Mohammad Younis Deedar of Bandi Bala, who gave 1 kanal and 3 marlas of land. The government said compensation to him is pending as verification of land documents with revenue authorities is “under process”.
The practice of engaging people in exchange for land, the government informed the House, was authorised under two government orders — No 239-F of 2005 and No 138-F of 2013. Several departments, including Jal Shakti, were permitted to hire casual labourers on a “minimum need basis” from families that donated land.
However, the policy was discontinued in 2015. Order No 43-F, issued on March 17 that year, withdrew the earlier two orders.
What has happened to the families who gave land under a policy that no longer exists is not spelt out. The 103 Baramulla families listed in the government’s own reply continue to be shown as having settled their compensation claim through an engagement that is no longer official policy.
The data tabled in the Assembly shows the gap between land taken and compensation paid across J&K.
In Baramulla district itself, out of 241 landowners, only 75 have been paid. In Rajouri, 805 people gave land, 396 were compensated, 409 are pending. In Jammu district, 433 gave land, 194 were paid, 239 are pending. In Kupwara, 333 gave land, 142 were paid, 191 are pending. In Kathua, 172 gave land, 76 were paid, 96 are pending. In Samba, 132 gave land, 83 were paid, 49 are pending. In Pulwama, 168 gave land, 34 were paid, 142 are pending.
The total number of people whose land was utilised across the Union Territory is 5,457. Those who have received compensation: 2,397. Those who have not: 3,060.
The government’s reply however did not indicate any timeline for the pending payments.
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