Armed forces no more require NoC for land acquisition in Jammu and Kashmir

Days after the modification of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir's Revenue Department has enabled security forces to notify areas as 'strategic' to carry out construction activities. This will pave way for not requiring no-objection certificate for land acquisition in the Valley by armed forces.

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir's Revenue Department has decided to do away with the 1971 circular that prescribed the obtaining of a no-objection certificate (NoC) from the erstwhile state governments. This comes days after the Union Territories Administrative council modified laws and enabled security forces to notify areas as 'strategic' to carry out construction activities.

According to the order, all officers designated as Collector Land Acquisition under the imposed Central land acquisition act and the Competent Authority Land Acquisition (CALA) authorised under the National Highways Act of 1956 would process the acquisitions by the armed forces.

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"The circular, dated on 27 August 1971, which prescribed obtaining of No Objection Certificate from the Home Department for acquisition/reacquisition of the land in favour of Army, the Border Security Forces, the Central Reserve Police Force and similar organisation is hereby withdrawn," the order, signed by Dr Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary to the Government (Revenue Department), read.

Earlier, on July 18, the Administrative Council under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu, gave its nod to the proposal to amend the Control of Building Operations Act, 1988 and the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, 1970 to provide for a special dispensation to carry out construction activities in the 'Strategic Areas'.

According to the government spokesperson, the amendments proposed by the Housing and Urban Development department will pave the way for notifying certain areas as 'Strategic Areas' in terms of the armed forces' requirement and in such areas, the regulation of construction activity shall be through a special dispensation.

The government's move was criticised by political parties of the Valley, with the National Conference alleging that it was aimed at transforming Jammu and Kashmir into a military establishment and undermining the civilian authority.

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