Kashmir Govt Revokes Land Transfer Order

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, July 1: The pro-Indian Kashmir government on Tuesday revoked the order of transferring 40 acres of forest land to the Hindu Shrine Board. The government, has, however, said that the land would be made available to the Tourism department, as per requirements.

An official spokesman told NewsBlaze that the Kashmir cabinet ministers met in Srinagar on Tuesday and cancelled the Government Order No: 184-FST of 2008 dated 26.05.2008 vide which 40 acres of forest land was diverted to the Hindu shrine board, known as Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) at Baltal and Domail in Kashmir.

The land had been transferred to the Hindu shrine board for raising pre-fabricated structures only for camping purposes of Hindu pilgrims who annually visit in large numbers the cave shrine in South Kashmir.

People in Kashmir had launched agitation against the land transfer deal since last Monday and were demanding cancellation of the land transfer order. For the 9th day in succession on Tuesday, the life in Kashmir remained paralysed due to the strike and protests being staged against the land transfer deal.

At least five persons were killed and more than 400 others injured in the protests across Kashmir during past nine days.

The official spokesman said that the government would be making arrangements for the annual Hindu pilgrimage on their own. "Recognising the capacity and capability of the Government, it reiterated its full commitment to discharge all the responsibilities of undertaking the creation of required infrastructure and providing full logistical support for making available various services with a view to fully ensure and facilitate the welfare, safety and security of the pilgrims during the entire period of the Hindu pilgrimage," he said.

The spokesman further said, "For this purpose, land would be made available to the Tourism Department, as per requirement, at various locations from Jammu onwards to the Cave via Baltal-Domail as well as Pahalgam Yatra routes".

He added, "The Tourism Department is directed to make adequate provisions in its annual budgets, keeping in view the ever increasing number of Yatris, so that not only are the existing facilities for pilgrims properly maintained but also that these are upgraded further from year to year".

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.