Jammu Development Authority’s Half-Century Struggle: Over 1,075 Acres of Prime Land Still Awaiting Possession.
||Black and White Digital News||
||Parvinder Singh March 22,2025 ||
Jammu : Even after five decades of transferring over 10,122 acres of land to the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), the Jammu and Kashmir government has yet to complete the crucial task of demarcation and possession of 1,075 acres of prime land. The delay raises concerns about land management, encroachments, and the effectiveness of administrative policies in ensuring the protection and development of public land.
A Long-Standing Issue with No End in Sight:
According to an official government document, the JDA was granted a total of 80,976 kanals 10 marlas (10,122 acres) of land. This included:
●35,353 kanals 1 marla of nazool land, transferred in 1973 under government order dated October 20, 1973.
●45,623 kanals 9 marlas of state land, allocated under the Jammu and Kashmir State Land Act in Jammu and Samba districts.
However, a significant portion of this land remains occupied by natural and agricultural features, including:
●32,387 kanals 19 marlas under water bodies,
●12,202 kanals 19 marlas covered by forests and khads,
●36,220 kanals 4 marlas categorized as Banjar Qadim (barren land), agricultural, and other types of land.
Despite years of assurances, the government acknowledged that out of the total allocated land, only 72,373 kanals 13 marlas (9,046.62 acres) have been demarcated so far, while 8,602 kanals 17 marlas (1,075.25 acres) remain to be demarcated.
Encroachments and CAG’s Scathing Criticism:
The situation is further complicated by massive encroachments on JDA land, as pointed out by a 2015-16 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report. The report exposed the failure of JDA to secure 7,243 acres of its land, leaving it vulnerable to illegal occupation. The CAG strongly criticized the JDA’s inefficiency and recommended that the state government take immediate action to register and reclaim the land.
Steps Taken: Joint Demarcation and Fencing Efforts:
In response to the prolonged crisis, the JDA, with active support from the district administrations of Samba and Jammu, is currently conducting joint demarcations. The process, however, remains sluggish, with only 1,492 kanals 13 marlas (186.5 acres) of JDA land fenced so far.
Authorities have assured that as the demarcation progresses, the secured land will be immediately fenced to prevent further encroachments.
JDA’s Role and Public Interest Developments:
Established in 1971, the Jammu Development Authority was tasked with planned urban development and implementation of regulations such as:
J&K Control of Building Operations Act, 1988,
Unified Building Bye-Laws 2021,
J&K Control of Building Operations Regulations.
Despite its struggles, the JDA has managed to establish 14 housing colonies with 10,618 plots, while regularizing 31 unauthorized colonies with 4,602 plot holders in the broader public interest.
The government has justified these regularizations as a step towards providing stability to thousands of families who had settled on state and JDA land over the years.
The Road Ahead: Will the JDA Finally Take Possession?
The prolonged delays in demarcation, fencing, and possession raise serious questions about governance and land administration. If the government and JDA fail to expedite the process, the prime land could further fall into the hands of encroachers, complicating urban planning and development in Jammu and Samba.
With mounting public pressure and critical reports exposing inefficiencies, will the authorities finally act decisively to secure and utilize the remaining 1,075 acres of prime land? Or will this remain another unfulfilled promise in Jammu’s urban development saga?
