The Ministry of Home Affairs told a parliamentary panel that no person from outside Jammu and Kashmir has purchased land in the Union Territory so far,
The ministry had notified new land laws for the Union Territory in October, making it possible for any Indian citizen to buy land in the region. The land in Jammu and Kashmir was earlier meant only for the permanent residents under Article 370, which was abrogated by the Centre on August 5, 2019.
In its report to the panel, the home ministry as per The Hindu said that agricultural land was being protected in Jammu and Kashmir on similar lines as that in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. It, however, said that the land has been opened up for industries in the latter two states.
“This has been one of the reasons why J&K, unlike Himachal and Uttarakhand, has not benefited from any industrial package in the past because till one has title to a land, industry cannot be set up,” the report said.
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The ministry also said that a land bank of 6,000 acres was “contemplated to be developed” for industries, adding that 3,000 acres for it has been identified.
On an enquiry by the panel about the number of proposals of investment received in the Union Territory, the ministry said that 456 MoUs amounting to Rs 23,152.17 crore have been signed.
The minister said that 520 migrant candidates returned to the Union Territory take up jobs under the rehabilitation package after the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Another nearly 2,000 migrant candidates are also likely to return under the same policy in the year 2021 on successful completion of the Selection process,” Reddy said.
