Allege corruption, fraud; call for inquiry
*Govt rules out relaxation in norms
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 7: The BJP MLAs today made a sensational charge in the Legislative Assembly that a senior officer got title of over 500 kanals land converted at village Maksudpur in Kathua district and it was sold at very high rates. They demanded an inquiry into the issue.
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The charge was initially made by BJP MLA from Jasrota (Kathua), Rajiv Jasrotia, a former Minister and was later endorsed by RS Pathania, his party colleague from Udhampur East. Other BJP MLAs also alleged corruption in Change of Land Use (CLU) by the poor people saying they have to take No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from 18 departments and demanded exemption.
The issue surfaced in response to a question by BJP MLA from Samba Surjeet Singh Slathia, also a former Minister, on the CLU whose reply was given by Forest and PHE Minister Javed Rana. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah holds charge of the Revenue Department.
Raising a supplementary, Rajiv Jasrotia alleged misuse of CLU saying title of 500 to 700 kanals of land was changed at Maksudpur in Kathua district for the purpose of industrial use.
“Nearly 500 kanals of land was purchased at the rate of Rs 3 lakh a kanal and after change of land use was sold for Rs 12 lakh per kanal. A very senior officer is involved in this,” he said and described the act as clear misuse of CLU.
Jasrotia’s party colleague, RS Pathania too joined the issue saying intent of the CLU may be alright but the frauds being committed under its garb have to be checked.
“We must admit it as a scandal. Terms and conditions are still grey areas. Jasrotia has raised serious issue that a senior officer who was at the helm of affairs of the prominent department changed CLU of major chunk of land. An inquiry should be held into this,” Pathania said.
Without referring to any specific case, BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa voiced concern over higher rates of CLU saying they are more than even the JDA land. Describing the CLU as “major problem”, he charged the Revenue department with resorting to highhandedness on the issue.
Another BJP MLA and former Minister Surjit Singh Slathia called for change in the CLU rules saying laws are meant for review.
“Even for 10 marlas or one kanal of land, the people are being asked to bring NOCs from 18 departments leading to corruption,” he said and urged the Chief Minister to revisit the rules for bringing relief to the people.
Forest and PHE Minister Javed Rana, who was replying to the main question of Slathia, said they inherited some rules which were made during last 5-7 years. However, he said the procedure has to be followed but the people can apply for NOCs online as well. And, if the NOCs are not issued within the prescribed limit, it is treated as issued.
“Our Government is people-friendly but still if there are certain flaws, we are ready to rectify them,” Rana said.
The Minister said there is no proposal under consideration in the Revenue department regarding relaxation in the CLU norms.
“The Government doesn’t intend to grant any relaxation in respect of CLU at present,” he said and clarified that there is no proposal to exempt rural areas from existing provisions. Also, he added, there is no proposal under consideration to reduce the prescribed fees or to ease prescribed formalities in respect of change of land use.
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