Land Of Trouble Part Two

Controversy surrounds a CRPF bid to acquire land belonging to an ailing state government unit in J&K, reports PEERZADA ARSHAD HAMID

FURY OVER the transfer of 100 acres of land in Kashmir to a shrine board peaked in an “aazadi movement” and has yet to die down. However, another land deal in the offing is likely to inflame sentiments and provoke yet another storm.

Jammu and Kashmir Industries Ltd (JKIL) — a public sector undertaking — is leasing 18.12 acres of riverside land at Pampore to the CRPF for 90 years. Negotiations between the two are proceeding smoothly and the deal is about to be finalised. The CRPF has been directed to deposit nearly Rs 22 crore as premium by October 15.

JKIL was founded to bring industrial development to the state. During the 1960s, it proved to be a huge success. State departments and private companies relied heavily on it for furniture and for some industrial products. Its mills produce joinerys, woollens, and silk, besides rosin and turpentine production facilities. JKIL was, at that time, famous for providing quality products as a premier state undertaking and a profitable one. However, in later years, stiff competition from private players pushed JKIL to the wall and it is now classified as a loss-making enterprise.

Its Commissioner-Secretary, Pawan Kotwal, told TEHELKA that JKIL is leasing its immovable property to meet salary and pension requirements. “JKIL is not currently profitable,” he says. “We have leased the property in a fair manner to many state departments and some central ones. Leases are given to the highest bidders.”

Earlier this year, JKIL received an application from the CRPF directorategeneral in Delhi for the lease of a plot of land on the banks of the Jhelum at the Government Joinery Mill, Pampore, for a paramilitary camp. “We want to set up an integrated camp as we don’t have many camps in Kashmir,” said MS Gupta, Inspector General of the CRPF.

Insiders say the state police had also asked to lease the land but the CRPF’s bid was the highest. It is reliably learnt that if the CRPF fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the lease or does not deposit the lease amount in time, the land will be immediately transferred to the J&K Police.

But mill workers say building a CRPF camp next to the joinery mill will be troublesome because of the tight security surrounding it. Some fear the mill will be closed down as the land leased includes a portion of the premises of the joinery mill. JKIL officials deny this.

However, the deal has the potential to spark an uprising over the issue. Separatists have strongly criticised the lease and threatened to fight it with vigour.

Hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Hurriyat Chairman told TEHELKA that the army and paramilitary forces already occupy enormous tracts of the state. His party would now take up the issue if the government does not abandon the plan.

“The lease is an effort by non-state subjects to occupy our land permanently,” he says. “A lease for 90 years is nothing but an attempt to hoodwink the citizens of the state. New Delhi wants to convert Jammu and Kashmir into a military cantonment.”

Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar, Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat, has also condemned the deal by and threatens to oppose it “tooth and nail”.

Land occupation is often highlighted by Kashmiri separatists in order to woo people. Earlier this year, Geelani released a report claiming that the army and paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir occupy 1 lakh acres.

ALTHOUGH LATEST government figures aren’t available, Planning Commission estimates of some years ago say the Indian army and paramilitary forces have occupied about 70,000 acres in Jammu and Kashmir. There are about 8 lakh army soldiers, paramilitary forces and police personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, estimate human rights groups and independent researchers. Government figures on the subject vary.

“Land is a very sensitive issue and it has a potential to raise public anger,” says researcher Haroon Minami. “People feel emotionally connected to the land and that is why whenever someone talks about it, it attracts public attention.”

The agitation over transfer of land to Amarnath shrine board had resulted in the killing of 59 people in police firing two months ago. While 57 were killed in Kashmir, two died in Jammu. The row over land brought Jammu in conflict with Kashmir. It saw an economic blockade of the Kashmir valley and the straining of relations between people of the two regions. These relations worsened to such an extent that Kashmiri traders snapped their business relations with their Jammu counterparts and boycotted the sale of their products. The boycott remains in force despite repeated pleas from Jammu trade bodies.

There have been instances in the past when mainstream political parties like the National Conference, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) too have challenged the heavy military concentration and have demanded a reduction in the numbers of the military. During its rule the PDP has been vocal in asking army and paramilitary forces to vacate occupied orchards, farmland, schools and government offices. In light of the volatile political situation in Kashmir, it is highly possible that the lease of JKIL land to the CRPF will run into rough weather.

“We are leasing land to meet the requirements of employees and JKIL. Although we are not against anyone, in case it becomes a political issue, it will be dealt with accordingly,” Kotwal said.

However, there is a long way to go before the land is actually leased. Once the CRPF deposits the premium the matter will be sent to the JKIL Board of Directors. It will then go to the Department of Industries and then to the Law Department. Finally, the state government would have to approve it.

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peerzada@tehelka.com