J&K Govt Approves Five-Marla Leasehold Land for Families Rendered Landless by Calamities – Alfaaz – The Words

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved the allotment of five marlas of state land on a 40-year lease to landless families rendered homeless by natural calamities during 2025, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

In a written reply to a question by BJP legislator Balwant Singh Mankotia, the Chief Minister said the decision was taken by the Council of Ministers and formalised through a government order issued on January 2. Under the policy, each eligible landless family affected by floods, landslides, cloudbursts or earthquakes will be allotted five marlas of state land exclusively for residential purposes.

The land will be provided on a lease basis without charging any premium. Beneficiaries will be required to pay an annual ground rent of ₹10 per marla for a period of 40 years, which may be extended further in accordance with rules, subject to approval by the competent authority. The allotment will be governed by conditions stipulated in the government order.

The Chief Minister further informed the House that substantial financial assistance has already been extended to families affected by flash floods and landslides in Udhampur district. A total of 6,449 families across Udhampur, Chenani, Ramnagar and Latti-Marothi tehsils have received compensation amounting to over ₹23.49 crore.

Of these, 2,666 families in Udhampur tehsil were sanctioned approximately ₹9.32 crore, while 1,208 families in Chenani tehsil received over ₹5 crore. In Ramnagar tehsil, 2,298 affected families were provided relief amounting to ₹7.86 crore, and 277 families in Latti-Marothi tehsil received assistance exceeding ₹1 crore.

The Chief Minister said damage assessments were carried out by field teams and eligible cases were verified strictly in accordance with State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms. Compensation was sanctioned and disbursed directly to beneficiaries through prescribed financial mechanisms.

He added that, alongside immediate relief, the government is focused on long-term rehabilitation by providing leasehold residential land to families rendered landless due to natural disasters, in line with approved norms and procedures.