STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Asking the LG administration to remove the nomenclature of ‘Gair Mumkin Khad’ and to lift the ban on the use of those ‘Private lands’ to construct, take loans and sale, purchase, Ch. Vikram Randhawa asked the LG Manoj Sinha to open the use of such lands on the pattern of government constructions. Ch. Vikram Randhawa, former MLC, accompanied by Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, BJP Media Incharge, Naresh Singh Jasrotia, Additional Office Secretary, and Kulbeer Charak, co-Convenor Sanskriti Cell, was addressing a Press Conference at BJP headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu. Ch. Vikram Randhawa, while addressing the media persons, asked the administration when the ‘Gair Mumkin Khads’ can be used by the government and the JDA for the construction of its offices and colonies, why the same permissions cannot be given to the masses.
“The administration is applying double standards in dealing with the public. On the one hand, permission for Khad lands/ change of nomenclature of Khad lands is allowed for government or JDA uses and not for the use of common masses. Isn’t it a violation of fundamental rights? Why such separate yardsticks and discrimination”, said Randhawa.
“‘All Gair Mumkin Khads’ lands are not state lands. There are a large number of private lands that are recorded as ‘Gair Mumkin Khads’. Restriction of the sale and purchase of Khad lands has resulted in the loss of state exchequer in thousands of crore rupees. Restriction of building permissions has also added to further loss of state exchequer”, said Randhawa.
Randhawa said that this irrational decision has added to the plight of the common person in need of money who wants to sell land or take a loan to meet the emergencies like medical treatment, higher studies, marriages of wards, etc. This has also resulted into the distress sale of prime lands, he added.
He pointed out that the sale purchase of lands is not allowed over lands adjoining huge Nallahs already channelized by ERA/ Municipality and said that the people of Jammu, Samba, and Kathua belt are the worst sufferers.
Randhawa said that permitting construction over Khad lands will not only strengthen the state exchequer but also add to the development of areas and strengthen economic activities as there will be engagement of construction workers leading to employment and will increase the utilization of construction materials like cement, sand, bricks and other materials.