Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced in the Legislative Assembly that the government has sanctioned the allocation of five marlas of state land on a 40-year lease to landless families displaced by natural calamities. The decision, approved by the Council of Ministers and formalized through a government order on January 2, aims to assist families impacted by floods, flash floods, landslides, cloudbursts, and earthquakes in the region. The allotted land, spanning approximately 126.5 square meters, will be designated for residential use without any premium charges, with beneficiaries required to pay an annual ground rent of Rs 10 per marla for 40 years, extendable upon approval.
More than 6,400 families affected by flash floods and landslides in Udhampur district have already received financial aid totaling over Rs 23.49 crore, as per the Chief Minister’s statement in the Assembly. The assistance, provided in adherence to prescribed norms, benefitted families across Udhampur, Chenani, Ramnagar, and Latti-Marothi tehsils. Notably, 2,666 families in Udhampur tehsil were granted around Rs 9.32 crore, while 1,208 families in Chenani tehsil were allocated over Rs 5 crore. Similarly, in Ramnagar tehsil, 2,298 affected families received Rs 7.86 crore, and 277 families in Latti-Marothi tehsil were aided with relief funds exceeding Rs 1 crore.
Abdullah highlighted that damage assessments were conducted by field teams, ensuring that eligible cases were verified in accordance with State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms. Compensation was subsequently approved and disbursed directly to beneficiaries through established financial channels. The government’s efforts to rehabilitate families displaced by natural disasters include the provision of state land for residential purposes under approved guidelines, as reiterated by the Chief Minister.
Omar Abdullah, who also serves as the finance minister, is set to present the budget in the Assembly, with expectations high among over 61,000 daily-rated Public Health Engineering (PHE) workers awaiting regularization after a prolonged delay. The budget speech by the Chief Minister is anticipated to address this issue, eagerly awaited by many.
