We want people to setup industries: LG

Srinagar: Justifying the new land laws, under which anyone can purchase land in Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said this was necessary for developing industries in the Union Territory (UT).

“People from any part of the country could purchase land within the municipal limits in the UT,” Sinha said during a press conference.

Replying to a question about the new order issued by the Centre, he said the agricultural land will be protected.

''We want people to set up industries in the J&K, so that the youth could get employment,'' he said.

Under the new land law, anyone can purchase land, except agriculture land, in the UT.

The Government of India (GoI) on Tuesday notified a land law, under which anyone can now buy land in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

However, agricultural land is not available for buying, the order said, issued a day after the results for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections were declared.

BJP secured majority by getting 15 seats, five short of last time in the 26-member Council, while nine went to the Congress and two Independents. BJP, during the electioneering, had promised to safeguard the land and jobs of people in Ladakh.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, it will be called the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Third Order, 2020.

The order comes into force with immediate effect. The General Clauses Act, 1897 applies for the interpretation of this Order, as it applies for interpretation of laws in force in the territory of India, the order stated.