1.3k kanal Valley land declared strategic area; up for Army ops use

In July 2020, the administration had withdrawn a 1971 circular that required a no-objection certificate (NOC) from J&K home department for acquisition or requisition of land in favour of the Army, BSF, CRPF and “other similar organisations”. Such acquisition has since been covered under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

In the same month, the administration had also given its approval to an amendment to Control of Building Operations Act, 1988, and J&K Development Act, 1970, providing for special dispensation for carrying out construction activities in “strategic areas” by armed forces. This is the first such order issued since the amendment came into force.

The order granting land in Gulmarg and Sonamarg to the armed forces places the condition that “the corp commanders shall ensure strict adherence to environment-related laws to prevent any environmental hazard”. Additionally, the forces must ensure that “no other applicable law in force in the Union Territory of J&K is observed in breach”.

Former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that the move to allocate thousands of kanals to the armed forces, that too in tourist areas, “confirms GOI’s intention to convert J&K into a military garrison. Under the ‘state land’ pretext, our land is up for grabs & to add insult to injury locals are being evicted from their homes.”

CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami also called for a review, and said there are already many areas with the Army for such purposes. “Gulmarg and Sonamarg, along with Pahalgam, are three most popular tourist destinations in the Valley which need to be promoted for tourism purposes,” he said.