Srinagar December 15 (KNS): Chairman, J&K Hoteliers Club Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya on Thursday termed new land laws "surprising" and "unfortunate", adding the concerned stakeholders will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and LG Manoj Sinha soon to clear misunderstanding.
Chaya, a well business tycoon while speaking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), said the new directives about land lease are "surprising" and "very unfortunate". He said we are aware about the uncertain situation in Kashmir that was prevalent in last 30 years during which the tourism became the first casualty.
He said the state land exist in every State and UT of the country and when lease of the land gets over the lessee contacts local administration for its extension on a premium amount of 20%, but unfortunately in Jammu and Kashmir the mechanism turns reverse.
"We are unable to understand why the government has resorted to harsh litigation. If they want to give land to locals let them to give us as we are containing the land for years", Chaya questioned.
He said the Gulmarg is famous all over for skiing and there around 58 properties as of now whose lease is over. "Is government wishes to shut down the Gulmarg by these new litigations", Chaya said.
"There are one lac people directly or indirectly associated with tourism in Gulmarg. If new laws will be implemented where these people fetch their livelihood", he added.
Hailing Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's efforts for reviving tourism in J&K, Chaya said "Since LG Sinha joined his office the tourism sector in J&K has received a major boost" and added, "What administration wants to achieve while dislocating us".
He said we will soon meet PM Narendra Modi and LG Manoj Sinha and will take up the matter for fruitful solution. "I think there is some misunderstanding that need to be cleared", Chaya added. He also said the matter should be dealt in a reasonable way so that we will be able to tolerate the burden.
"We are confident PM Modi and LG Sinha will listen us and resolve the matter for the betterment of tourism industry of J&K. We are hopeful there will be no injustice with us", Chaya continued.
Pertinently on Wednesday the Lieutenant Governor J&K, Manoj Sinha had said that old land laws were "regressive" and the reforms carried out by the government were imperative.
On December 13, the J&K administration notified that all the outgoing lessees, except in the case of subsisting/expired leases for residential purposes, shall immediately handover the possession of the land taken on lease to the government, failing which the outgoing lessee shall be evicted.
According to The Jammu & Kashmir Land Grant Rules-2022 notified by the Revenue Department, all the outgoing lessees (except in the case of subsisting/expired leases for residential purposes) shall immediately handover the possession of the land taken on lease to the government, failing which the outgoing lessee shall be evicted as per the provisions of public premises (eviction of un-authorized occupant) Act, 1988.
The Rules, however, state that the outgoing lessees shall, however be paid for any improvement carried out or structure constructed thereon at the value assessed as provided under Sub-Rule (xi) of Rule 13 provided that the lessee has not violated any of the conditions of the lease. (KNS)