Ishtiyaq Ahmed 

Srinagar, Jun 15 : The conversion of agriculture land into commercial and residential purposes is going on unabated in north Kashmir and the authorities are watching like spectators.

Despite several laws being in place and repeated directions of the high court, the state government has failed to stop the conversion of agricultural land into commercial and residential purposes.

Many complaints are pouring in from Handwara and Kupwara areas of North Kashmir where some persons are constructing commercial and residential structures on agricultural land.

As per Agriculture department figures, two lakh kanals of agriculture land of the net sown or cultivated area of 3.5 lakh hectare has been converted for commercial and other purposes in Kashmir over the years.

The provisions of J&K Land Revenue Act 1996 prohibit the conversion of paddy or vegetable land into any other use. Besides violation of laws, the construction of residential and commercial buildings on agricultural land is violation of the master plan.

“The conversion of agricultural land into other purposes was done in connivance of officials who facilitate construction of houses, buildings and shops on the farming land over the years,” an official of Revenue Department told news agency.

A high-level official committee constituted by the government in 2009 to report on master plan violations, had identified and compiled a comprehensive report of around 2500 illegal structures in the Srinagar city alone. “Most of these constructions were made on agricultural land by some politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats. Government succumbed to the pressure of these influential people and shelved the report without taking any action on it,” the official said.

It has been seen most of the agricultural land has been converted into non-agricultural purposes on the outskirts of Srinagar and other rural areas of the Valley.

The High Court had pulled up the state government several times and directed the authorities to ensure that no conversion of agricultural land is allowed for commercial, residential and industrial purposes. However, sources said the authorities had failed to follow the directions of the court. Agriculture is the prime source of the state income as around 70 percent of the population is directly or indirectly involved with it.

The Economic Survey Report has also portrayed a grim picture of conversion of agricultural land, saying it is happening “at an alarming rate” and leading to further dependence of food on imports from outside the state.

As per the report, the arable land in J&K has shrunk from 0.14 hectare per-person in 1981 to 0.08 hectare per-person in 2001 and further to 0.06 hectare per-person in 2012.

Baramulla, June 15: Newly elected Member of 17th Lok Sabha for Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency Mohammad Akbar Lone today chaired his maiden interactive cum review meeting at dak bungalow Baramulla where he took a detailed review of the implementation of various centrally sponsored schemes.

Meeting was attended by District development Commissioner Baramulla Dr G N Itoo, SSP Baramulla Abdul Quyoom, SSP Sopore, ADC Sopore, SEs of various engineering departments, CMO, CEO, heads of various departments and others concerned officers.

On the occasion, DDC presented the district profile and gave a detailed presentation of various developmental projects undertaken by various executing agencies through the power point presentation. He said that district Baramulla is leading in various aspects on developmental fronts adding that the district achieved the top slot in the recently released NITI AYOG’s delta ranking under transformation of Aspirational Districts Programme.

After interacting with the officers, Akbar Lone sought cooperation from the officers in implementing various centrally sponsored schemes so that district is developed on all fronts. He stressed upon the concerned officers to work with added zeal and enthusiasm and said that various centrally sponsored schemes are meant for the welfare of people so their implementation on the ground level is vital. He also sought feedback from the officers so that various programmes are implemented effectively.

Kashmir Despatch News

Srinagar, Jun 15 : Senior political activist Riyaz Ahmad from north Kashmir’s Pattan on Monday joined Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with PDP President Mehbooba Mufti welcoming him into the party fold.

Underscoring the need to strengthen the PDP, Riyaz said the basic reason for his joining the party is that it is the only force in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape that has a proven track-record of representing the people in a fearless manner.

He added that PDP President Mehbooba Mufti’s invincible courage to safeguard Jammu and Kashmir’s core interests and fighting for the Rasana case has been hailed even by her political opponents.

Riyaz further said that the determination exhibited by the PDP even during the trying circumstances for the protection of state’s unique identity and special position will be remembered for times to come and such astuteness was alien to the state till the emergence of the PDP.

Party President Mehbooba Mufti while welcoming the new entrant into the party fold expressed hope that his joining will strengthen the PDP further on ground and will make it emerge victorious once again.

Meanwhile, Riyaz Ahmad, according to party spokesman has been made incharge of north Kashmir’s Pattan constituency by the party president.

Srinagar, Jun 15 : Expressing serious concern over under-utilization of funds allocated for upliftment of tribal population in the State, Advisor to the Governor, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, Saturday issued directions to the Tribal Affairs Department to accelerate spending under its different schemes of the State and Central Governments.

The Advisor said the schemes envisaged for development of tribal population should show discernible change on ground so that they get access to key services like education, health, roads, jobs, agriculture and allied sectors.

The Advisor made these observations while reviewing the functioning of the Tribal Affairs Department. Secretary Tribal Affairs, Abdul Majeed Bhat, Director Tribal Affairs, Mushtaq Ahmad and other senior officers of the Department attended the meeting.

Urging for a big push to achieve earmarked targets under various schemes, the Advisor observed that enhanced spending in core sectors like education, health, dairying, sheep husbandry and animal husbandry, skill development and traditional sectors like agriculture and horticulture will provide a much needed level playing field to the tribal people and immensely benefit in scaling up their standard of living. “Tribal population constitutes nearly 12 per cent of the total population in the State. The holistic development of the State would be difficult if the Tribal population continues to lag behind in key indicators.”

Flagging the issue of unspent balance of Rs.104 crore revalidated for the year 2019-20 under centrally-sponsored schemes as an area of grave concern, Ganai, who is Advisor in-charge Tribal Affairs, exhorted the Department to work in mission mode so that approved funding under Special Central Assistance (SCA) to TSS, Article 275(1) and pre and post-matric scholarship to ST students is expended in full. “The Central Government has been extremely liberal in providing funds and we need to match that by improving our spending ability” he stated.

Describing the performance under State Capex Budget 2018-19 as equally unsatisfactory, the Advisor said he will closely monitor head-wise spending so that expenditure under proposed outlay of Rs.6.54 crore is booked in full.

The works programme for the year 2019-20 under Capex Budget under Tribal Affairs Department envisages land acquisition and construction of hostels in Udhampur, Kathua and Kalakote, up-gradation of VTC at Kangan, development of Cluster Tribal Model Villages and Milk villages in the State.

On the issue of under-staffing in the newly-created Tribal Affairs Department, the Advisor directed Secretary Tribal Affairs to take up the matter with General Administration Department for filling up of all these posts in a time bound manner. The Government has created 56 posts including those of District Tribal Welfare Officers in 6 districts with substantial Tribal population, Tribal Officers in 16 other districts and ministerial staff which shall go a long way in execution and monitoring of projects and schemes for up-liftment of Tribal population in the State. However, many of these posts were still unfilled.

During the meeting, the Director briefed the Advisor about various components of the Centrally sponsored schemes. He informed the meeting about the progress achieved under SCA and Article 275(1) vi’s-a-vi’s development of cluster Tribal model villages, establishment of milk villages, Eklavya Model Residential Schools and construction of hostels.

The Advisor asked Director (TAD) to closely coordinate with the executing agencies for time-bound completion of ongoing projects. He also highlighted the need to liaise with the Deputy Commissioners for monitoring works programme and making soft interventions in the larger interest of the tribal communities.

Srinagar : The Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday arrested a gang of burglars in Srinagar and stolen property worth lakhs of rupees were recovered from their possession.

The spokesman said that Srinagar Police has been successful in busting and apprehending a gang of burglars who were involved in a series of burglaries and attempts to burglary within the district.

The modus-operandi of the gang was to trace the big godowns/warehouses and shops in the district and strike in the dead of the night and decamp with valuables especially cigarettes. The gang would take the help of special implements like bolt-cutters, etc to break open the locks and get access to the godowns without creating much noise. The gang was technically updated and used to take CCTV and electronic surveillance equipment along with them and dispose of it off as to destroy any sort of video footage/evidence.

The police started serious work on the leads after a godown at Baghinand Singh was burgled and goods (cigarettes) worth lakhs of rupees were looted.

Suhail Khan

Baramulla, Jun 15 : In a joint conference by army and police they said on Saturday that it has handed over four youths to their respective families who were held yesterday while exfiltrating LoC in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday.

In a press conference at EME unit Baramulla Commander 79 Mount Brigade Girish Kalia said that all four youths who were held “on path of violence” have been handed over to their respective families.

The Commander said that they got information about 4 youths who were going to join path of violence after being misguided by local militants and their accomplices.

Commander said that acting swiftly to prevent them from choosing wrong path Army’s 161 TA batallion, Baramulla police and 53 bn CRPF apprehended them along Line of Control (LOC) in Limber area of Boniyar on Friday.

Comamder Girish Kalia further said that after proper counselling youths were handed over to their respective families.

Commander also appeal youth not to get misguided by propaganda of militants.

He said youth should choose the path of peace not violence.

Besides CO 161 TA Ved Benjwal, SSP Baramulla Abdul Qayoom was present in the press conference.

The commander identified the youths as Adil Ahmad Dar (22) son of Ghulam Hassan Dar of Hardu Hangir Yaripora Kulgam, Tahir Shamim Lone (19) son of Shamim Ahmad Lone of Kapren Shopian, Sameer Bhat (18) son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat of Seer Dari Sopore and Naveed Parra (19) son of Ghulam Nabi Parra of Tapper Pattan.(GNS)

Case FIR no. 3/2019 PS ACB Ang South Kashmir

Case FIR No. 3/2019 u under section 5(1) (d) P.C Act Samvat 2006, punishable u/S 5(2) of the Act r/w 420 & 120-B RPC has been registered in Police Station Anti Corruption Bureau, South Kashmir (Anantnag) against Shiekh Imran Director M/S Kehwa Square Pvt. Ltd. BohriKadal Srinagar, officers of J&K Bank and other Govt officials, for illegal appropriation of subsidy with inflated project cost for establishment of CA storage at Lassipora, Pulwama .

During verification conducted by Anti Corruption Bureau kashmir, it came to light that one Sheikh Imran, Director Kehwa Group of Companies has submitted a proposal / DPR to J&K Bank for establishment of CA storage under the name and style of M/S Kehwa Square Pvt. Ltd. at Lassipora, Pulwama.

As per the norms of Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Joint Inspection Team (JIT) of various experts and government officials in association with Shiekh Imran Director M/S Kehwa Square Pvt. Ltd. conducted spot inspection of the site .

The assessed cost of the project to Rs. 33.00 crores with the subsidy component thereof calculated to Rs. 16.50 crores i.e. 50% of estimated project cost (EPC), purportedly as per the norms of Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan (HMNEH) States was sent to empowered monitoring committee of MIDH, Govt. of India, for final approval. Subsequent to its approval, the State Government also constituted a Committee which did spot inspection and physical verification and recommended release of subsidy as per norms without altering or amending the component wise value of machinery and civil works, etc.

As per norms, the subsidy component, after its release by the National Horticulture Board (NHB), the same was required to be kept in a separate account by the credit provider Bank termed as subsidy reserve fund with detailed terms and conditions for adjustment of the subsidy.

During enquiry, it also came to light that M/S Kehwa Group has 06 more business units.Sheikh Imran hasraised varied loan facilities / ODs (overdrafts) for these business units. The liabilities on account of loan accumulated to Rs. 138 crores.

Since, one of the company Kehwa Square had turned NPA including its sister business concerns, Sh. Sheikh Imran sought one time settlement with J&K Bank authorities.

The bank finally granted wave off liabilities of Rs.33 crores. Pursuant to the one time settlement , M/S Kehwa group was asked to deposit Rs. 105 crores in two installments with the first installment of Rs. 50 crores to be paid by 25.03.2017.

The enquiry further reveals that in order to usurp the subsidy component under the garb of promoting Horticulture activity/storage facility with the connivance of the Horticulture Officers and Bank Officials, the proprietor of M/S Kehwa Square Pvt. Ltd. Shri Sheikh Imran and his partners to declare the CA Store as NPA without paying even a single installment towards the bank while as the cost of the project assessed subsequently during enquiry by ACB was found much lower than the projected cost.

The enquiry reveals that this criminal design of Sheikh Imran and his partners was actually executed with the active support of the Officials of J&K Bank through business unit namely M/S Go Fresh whose proprietor/s Shri Nadeem Ahmad Mayar (Qasba) was roped in seeking a loan term of Rs. 36.10 crores with arrangement of margin money of Rs. 1.90 crores in lieu of the proposed transfer of the lease / property rights of this mortgaged business unit i.e. CA Store Lassipora in his favour.

The proprietor (s) of M/S Go Fresh Shri Nadeem Ahmad Mayar obtained the loan amount of Rs. 36.10 Crores, he physically took over the operation of the CA storage business unit without formal transfer of assets / liabilities in his favour. Ironically, the bank authorities extended the loan facility to the proposed buyer on the same property which was already under hypothecation with the bank as asset of the principal borrower i.e M/S Kehwa Square Pvt. Ltd.

Enquiry has further revealed that M/S Kehwa Square Pvt. Ltd. sought further concessions from the bank subsequent to the first OTS (One Time Settlement), were sought by it surreptitiously and consented to by the bank authorities whereof the second installment of Rs. 55 crores, duly payable after the first OTS was further reduced to Rs. 27 crores.

During enquiry it has come to fore that M/S Kehwa Group in furtherance of a well knit conspiracy with respective Government agencies and bank authorities under the garb of NPA and OTS/s in mutual conspiracy illegally benefitted the proprietor/s of M/S Kehwa Group with illegal appropriation of subsidy amount of Rs. 16.50 crores and layering of various transactions.

Thus, it is established that the M/S Kehwa Group has got their loan of Rs. 138 crores with J&K Bank, restructured for an amount of Rs. 78 crores and under a well knit conspiracy Sheikh Imran and partners of M/S Kehwa Square Pvt. Ltd. was extended with covert / overt support by Officers of J&K Bank and Joint Inspection Team, dishonestly and fraudulently, who by abuse and misuse of their official position as public servants conferred undue pecuniary / monetary advantage on M/S Kehwa Group of Companies thereby causing illegal appropriation of crores of rupees from State exchequer, for personal motives.

The investigation has been set into motion and further action as per law is in process.

KD NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, June 15: Noted businessman Farooq Amin has been elected as President of District Cricket Association (DCA) Anantnag, here on Friday.

Farooq Amin while talking to media said he wants to take everybody on board for the promotion of cricket in Anantnag district.

The office bearers of the Association have also been elected on the occasion. While talking to media persons, Mr. Farooq said professionalism and transparency shall remain his top most priorities for the promotion of cricket in district Anantnag. He requested everybody to come forward and support the cause of cricket. “I am of the opinion that we have tremendous potential among our youth. But the only thing they need is proper guidance and platform that can chisel their skills and give them confidence to carve a niche,” Mr. Farooq Amin told Kashmir Despatch.

SRINAGAR, : The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the winding up of J&K Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation (JAKFED).

SAC directed that the Winding up of JAKFED shall be concluded by 31.08.2019. Further, the Cooperative Department will propose constitution of an appropriate Committee to the General Administration Department which will coordinate the winding up of the Federation.

The Department will obtain prior concurrence of the Finance Department to the design and implementation of a VRS for the employees of JAKFED.

All the movable/immovable assets of JAKFED shall be taken over by the State Government and financial commitments, if any, shall be met by the Cooperative department through sale of these assets and the State Government shall not bear any financial liability whatsoever on this account.

It is noteworthy to mention that JAKFED is registered under the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies Act, 1989 and is an apex level institution in the Cooperative Sector. The major activities of the federation included procurement and distribution of Fertilizer, building material, domestic gas etc.

JAKFED was a profit earning organization, however, it could not sustain the same on account of malpractices which were probed by a High Level Committee (Pillai Committee) and, thereafter, by the Joint House Committee of Legislative Council. The matter has been referred to CBI for further investigation.

The employees of JAKFED filed a Writ Petition before the High Court with the prayer to redress their grievances, including those related to release of gratuity, leave encashment, salary etc on eve of their retirement. The High Court in its order dated 20.02.2018 directed the State Government to suggest ways and means by which the employees of JAKFED can be paid their dues.

Pursuant to the Court directions, the matter was examined at various levels of the Government. The financial position of JAKFED, liabilities of the organization; future prospects of the organization and many other aspects were examined critically in order to arrive at a decision whether to go for revival or winding up, if necessary, of JAKFED, while protecting the interests of the employees on the rolls of the federation.

It was observed that Federation has strength of 224 employees. The Federation is suffering annual recurring loss of around Rs 2.75 Crore and is having statutory liabilities of Rs 24 Crore including payment of CPF and Pensionary benefits besides liabilities on account of payments to suppliers is around Rs 25 Crore. Outstanding against the goods supplied is Rs.19 Crore and outstanding to be recovered from the officers/officials against whom impressed advance has already been paid is Rs.1.24 Crore. The overall liabilities of JAKFED are to the tune of Rs 67 Crore.

After careful analyses of all the pros and cons and in view of the very limited scope for revival, decision to wind up JAKFED has been taken.