Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir revenue department on Saturday ordered changes in the record of rights in respect of over 400 acres of land in Birpur village of Samba district, an official said.
The changes pertain to the delineation and demarcation of land that does not form part of any watercourse or source but has been classified as Gair Mumkin Khad’, ‘Gair Mumkin Darya’ and ‘Gair Mumkin Nallah’ in the revenue records, the revenue department official said, adding the “issue was a long pending demand of the people.”
Quoting an order issued by the department, the official said that a total of over 4,150 kanals of land in Birpur village have been classified as Gair Mumkin Khad’.
A detailed study conducted by the revenue authorities and irrigation and flood control department, and based on spot verification by the deputy commissioner and a technical report by the department, flood risk zone maps for the village has been prepared,” the official said.
“Accepting the recommendation of the committees set up for delineation and demarcation, the government has ordered that 3278.25 kanals of land (409.7 acres) shall be recorded as Banjar Qadeem’ (old barren or uncultivated land),” he added.
The Bari Brahmana Industries Association has welcomed the decision saying the newly designated land will be allocated for industrial purposes, aiding prospective investors whose land allotment applications have been pending with the industries department.
The revenue department said that the delineation and demarcation process was conducted scientifically, employing advanced technologies such as drone flying and GIS mapping.
“A digital terrain model was prepared for the catchment area of Ballol Nallah, and hydrological modeling studies were conducted to determine flood risk zones. Several specialized agencies, including the irrigation and flood control department, the directorate of ecology, environment, and remote sensing, and the National Institute of Hydrology Centre in Jammu, were consulted during this comprehensive process.”
The Jammu and Kashmir administration had established a three-tier committee to oversee the delineation and demarcation of lands.