In a significant move to address housing issues for landless individuals, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has approved the allocation of 5 Marla (approximately 1361 square feet) of state land on a lease basis. This initiative falls under the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana (Gramin)/Awas Plus scheme (PMAY-G/Awas Plus) and aims to provide housing to beneficiaries from various categories who were on the Rural Development Department’s Permanent Waiting List for 2018-19.
Categories eligible for land allotment
• People residing on State land
• People residing on Forest land
• People residing in Rakhs and Farms
• People in possession of custodian land
• People residing on land Near WW Dachigam Park
Additionally, the allocation extends to any other eligible individuals who don’t have land available for construction.
Under this initiative, the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district will be responsible for allocating 5 Marla of state land based on specific guidelines. To be considered for this land allotment, the individual must meet the criteria of being landless, which includes not owning 5 Marla or more of land and not having any land available for inheritance.
According to order issued by Dr Piyush Sigla Secretary to Government, “The land will be granted on a lease basis for a period of 40 years, with the possibility of extending it for another 40 years, subject to fulfilling all necessary formalities. The lease will require a token amount of Rs 100 per Marla as a one-time premium and a nominal annual ground rent of Rs 1 per Marla. If the beneficiary fails to construct a house on the allotted land within two years, the lease will be cancelled.”
The order further said, “The verification process involves the Assistant Commissioner (Development) of the Rural Development Department confirming the eligibility of beneficiaries and forwarding their cases to the Deputy Commissioner. The Tehsildar will then conduct an inquiry to identify suitable state land and verify beneficiary details”.
It’s important to note that the land lease does not automatically grant permission for construction; beneficiaries must seek permission from the appropriate authority to build houses on the allotted land. Construction must commence within three months of leasing the land; failure to do so will result in the land being reclaimed by the government, says order.
“The leased land cannot be sublet, subleased, alienated, or transferred by the beneficiary. Violating this rule will lead to the termination of the lease and the resumption of the land by the government,” order said.
The execution of the lease agreement will be carried out by the Tehsildar as per the provided Form-I. The Deputy Commissioner’s office will maintain a database of all such leases, which will be submitted to the government on a monthly basis.
