Army pays 12 cr as Land rent in Valley

JAMMU: The Indian Army pays as much as Rs 12,38,21,481 as rental annually to the owners of the private land in Kashmir division, the government told the state legislative assembly on Tuesday.
In a written reply, the home ministry led by chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said that the land rent under the occupation of defence forces is being revised after every five years in reply of a question to MLA Shopian, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat.
“The defence forces pay an annual rent of private land of Rs 12, 38, 21, 481,” said Mehbooba in the legislative assembly.

The details said that the most of rent being paid to private land holders by defence forces are in Baramulla district in northern Kashmir and amounts to Rs 3, 06, 71, 280 followed by Pulwama where defence forces pay Rs 2, 47, 71, 022.

In Ladakh region, defence forces pay a rental of Rs 83, 20, 120 to private landholders in Kargil while it is Rs 41, 04, 451 in Leh.

They added 2887 kanals and 17 marlas of horticulture land are under the occupation of defence forces in Valley. “Efforts are being made to vacate the horticulture land from defence forces,” it said.

Earlier on January 10, the government told in the assembly that at least 4,30,933 kanals of land across the entire state are under the occupation of various forces agencies including the Army and 4.3 lakh kanals of land, 3,79,933 kanals are being occupied by security agencies in the Kashmir region, including Ladakh.

At least 1,21,125.07 kanals of land are under the occupation of government forces including the Indian Army, the CRPF, BSF and other agencies in the Kashmir Valley alone.