Minister for Health and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that out of total 1727241 Kanal and 8 Marla illegally occupied land, 1539662 Kanal and 15.5 Marla land has been retrieved, so far, in Kathua and Samba districts.

The Minister, who was replying on behalf of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to a question raised by Rajiv Jasrotia in the Legislative Assembly.

She said that the eviction process has already been initiated as per the relevant rules for retrieval of remaining 313645 Kanal and 12 Marla land worth Rs. 18,049.6 crore from the encroachers.

Sharing details, the Minister said that the land under illegal occupation is being retrieved in Ghatti Patwar, Patwar Halqa Nanan, Forelain, Bhagthali Patwar, Taraf Bhajwal and Taraf Manjli, however, no state land has been encroached in Korepunnu village of Samba.

Regarding conversion of Agriculture land for industrial and commercial purposes, the Minister said that a total of 6098.53 Kanal of land has been converted for industrial and commercial purposes in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu. She informed the House that total conversion of Agriculture land for industrial purpose was 4729 Kanal and 19.33 Marla while 559.17 Kanal land has been converted for commercial purposes in Kathua and Jasrota areas.

Similarly, 156 Kanal and 07 Marla of Agriculture land has been converted and utilized for industrial purposes while 654 Kanal and 10 Marla for commercial purposes in Samba, she informed the House.

She informed that the Revenue Department has not transferred state land to any private individual for setting up of Industrial Estates, however, on the basis of intends placed by the Industries & Commerce Department, land measuring 12260 Kanal and 03 Marla has been transferred to Industries & Commerce Department in various districts during the past two years.

She said that the State land measuring 129 Kanal has been allotted to PMAY (G) beneficiaries on leased basis during the past two years.

Legislators; RS Pathania and Narinder Singh raised supplementaries.