CM Omar Abdullah assures digitisation of only accurate land records
JAMMU, FEBRUARY 11:
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today stated that the government is committed to ensure complete accuracy in land records and will digitise only the correct and verified records.
The Chief Minister intervened while supplementary queries were raised by several MLAs during the Question Hour in the House.
He acknowledged the department’s admission that the process is not error free, with complaints received from people claiming ownership of land that is either wrongly recorded or unregistered in official records.
“The Chief Minister asserted that there should be no haste .” We are not in a race to claim that the entire process must be completed within six months. What we need is accuracy,” the Chief Minister said.
He added that if achieving accuracy requires more time, the government will take that time. “I assure you that we will not allow any wrong record to be digitized. We will sit down with the department and consider the suggestions made by the honourable Members,” he said.
Reiterating the government’s seriousness on the issue, the Chief Minister assured the House that the department is fully aware of the concerns and corrective measures will be ensured.
Earlier, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, replying on behalf of the Chief Minister to a question raised by MLA Devsar Peerzada Feroz Ahmed, informed the House that 15,516 non-quasi-judicial errors have been identified and rectified on the spot by the field agencies in Tehsils Devsar, Frisal and Qaimoh.
He further stated that 185 quasi-judicial errors have been detected in digitised Jamabandis during public verification. The same have been forwarded to the competent authorities through proper channels for further action, he added.
“The process of error rectification is underway. After completing that, Jamabandis will be read in public,” the Minister said. He added that all 185 quasi-judicial errors identified in Tehsil Qaimoh have been referred to the Competent Authority.
The Minister said that no proprietary land has been washed away during the recent floods in District Kulgam. He also informed the House that in Tehsil Qaimoh, one landless beneficiary has been allotted five marla of land under the PMAY-G scheme.
High Level Committee to finalize modalities for stone quarrying: Deputy Chief Minister
Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary today said that a High Level Multi Departmental Committee has been constituted to examine and finalize the modalities for revival of customary mining activities of stone quarrying at Panthachowk Srinagar, Saderkoot Bala Bandipora and other related locations.
The Deputy Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by Legislator Hasnain Masoodi in the Legislative Assembly.
He said that the committee has already conducted a series of meetings with the stakeholder departments regarding the matter. He added that the committee will submit its recommendations in the shortest possible time.
He informed the house that once the Committee drafts its report, the same shall be shared with the concerned members of Legislative Assembly before submitting its final report/recommendation to the government.
Regarding rehabilitation of the erstwhile quarry holders, the Deputy CM said that the department had to club the Individual Quarries, falling in areas ancestrally occupied as per the legacy data of the department and certified by the Revenue Department, and declare them as Cluster of Quarries to be considered for Quarry Licence. Subsequently, the department declared 10 Quarry Belts in Lethpora, Mandakpal, Khrew and Wuyanin Pulwama District as Quarry Clusters with the directions to submit the Approved Mining Plan, Environmental Clearance and Consent to Operate from the Competent Authorities for formal and grant of Quarry Licence in favour of the erstwhile Quarry holders. Of which, 03 clusters have been withdrawn, he added.
He said that however, till date, no applicant of the above mentioned declared Clusters were able to submit the Environmental Clearance and Consent to Operate and NOCS of Stakeholder departments issued by the competent authorities, for formal grant of Quarry License in their favour.
Further, in order to provide the livelihood of the erstwhile quarry holders in Lethpora, Ladhu, Mandakpal, Khrew and Wuyan, the department has issued disposal permits of the Loose Material available in the quarry sites from time to time, he added.
Deputy Chief Minister said erstwhile quarry holders in Kashmir Division can lift/transport loose quarry material for government works and to secure livelihood. This includes Booh Awantipora Quarry cluster holders, Pulwama who were allowed to lift 34,650 metric tonnes of quarry stone.
Legislator Hilal Akbar Lone raised supplementary question.
Zainpora Constituency gets new Lift Irrigation Scheme: Javed Rana
Says govt considering modernisation of irrigation schemes
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana today informed the Legislative Assembly that the government has sanctioned a new Lift Irrigation Scheme (LIS) for Zainpora Constituency, aimed at strengthening the irrigation infrastructure in the area.
The Minister stated this while replying to a question regarding Lift Irrigation Scheme raised by Legislator Showkat Hussain Ganie in the House.
Javed Rana informed that “Construction of LIS Heff Lonepora, Shopian,” has been sanctioned under NABARD RIDF-XXXI at an approved cost of ₹239.00 lakh. The scheme will cater to a Cultivable Command Area (CCA) of 50 hectares, thereby providing assured irrigation to agricultural lands, he added.
He informed that the scheme is targeted for completion by 2029.
MLAs Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Shabir Ahmad Kullay raised supplementary questions on the subject.
Responding to the concerns raised, Javed Rana said that modernisation of irrigation schemes is under active consideration of the government. He added that necessary measures have been taken by the government to strengthen the irrigation facilities across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in rural and agriculturally important constituencies.
Govt prioritises creation of sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship, skilling, institutional reforms: Deputy CM
Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary today said that addressing unemployment remains a top priority of Jammu and Kashmir government and focus is on creating sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship, skilling and institutional reforms so that youth become job-creators rather than job-seekers.
The Deputy Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by Legislator Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi in the Legislative Assembly.
He said that over 1.71 lakh youth have registered on the Mission YUVA platform, leading to around 70K formal enterprise applications that clearly reflects growing confidence in the programme.
He added that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for nearly 52,875 candidates have been professionally prepared through Small Business Development Units (SBDUs), ensuring technical and financial viability.
The Deputy CM added that as on date, 16,141 applications have been successfully completed, resulting in bank sanctions of nearly ₹1,000 crore, with over ₹700 crore already disbursed. He further said that these figures translate into thousands of enterprises being established on the ground, supported by structured capacity-building, where 7,339 entrepreneurs have completed training and another 5,000 are currently undergoing training.
The Deputy CM said that as per the extensive survey conducted during the month of January 2025, 4.73 lakh individuals in the age group of 18-60 out of total 64.8 lakh individuals surveyed, have reported ‘not working but willing to work’. This included 1.79 lakh in Jammu division and 2.94 lakh individuals in Kashmir division.
The Deputy Chief Minister further stated that from the remaining 37,000 applications currently with the banks, about 15,000 cases are at an advanced stage, pending completion of procedural documentation and will be sanctioned by 31st March 2026. Besides, around 22,000 applications are assessed to be credit-worthy and are expected to be sanctioned progressively over the next 3–4 months, which clearly indicates a strong and moving pipeline, rather than stagnation.
He said that the Mission YUVA is not a subsidy-driven or indiscriminate loan distribution scheme but a rigorous, transparent and credibility-based entrepreneurship programme. He added that the multi-stage scrutiny ensures that while every genuine aspirant is given opportunity, only financially viable and sustainable enterprises receive bank finance, protecting both the public resources and the future of young entrepreneurs.
The supplementary was raised by Legislator Mir Saifullah.
678 beneficiaries covered under HADP in Beerwah: Javid Ahmad Dar
Minister for Agriculture Production Javid Ahmad Dar today informed the House that 678 beneficiaries from Beerwah Constituency have been covered under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).
Replying to a question raised by Legislator Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani, the Minister said that horticulture cultivation in Beerwah spans 3,159.48 hectare, covering fruit varieties like Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Apricot, Walnut, Almond and other local varieties.
He said that agricultural development in the constituency is being actively promoted under HADP and other government schemes. During the last three years, 30 bee colonies, one honey processing unit, one Common Hive Centre (CHC) for pollination and agricultural tool kits have been provided to the eligible farmers to promote apiculture as a subsidiary source of income, he added.
The Minister added that training and capacity-building programmes have also been organised to enhance scientific management of bee colonies. This initiative has improved pollination in agricultural and horticultural crops, resulting in better productivity, he added.
Responding to a supplementary question regarding leaf miner disease and use of pesticides and fungicides, the Minister said that SKUAST and other research scientists are working on addressing these issues. He noted that climate change has contributed to emergence of such diseases but the government and the Agriculture Department are taking timely and necessary measures to support the farming community.