ZIRAAT TIMES TEAM REPORT
Srinagar: The government of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir has acquired new powers to modify grazing land use in erstwhile state of J&K.
According to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Fifth Order, 2020, notified through the Gazette of India notification No. 3377 dated October 26, 2020, accessed by Ziraat Times, several modifications have been made in the use and transfer of grazing land.
Following are the changes/modifications made to the grazing land use laws:
Restriction on use of grazing land, etc.and prohibition on transfer
―133-BB.
(1) The land which is in the form of grazing land, arak, kap orkah-i-krisham or which grows fuel or fodder and belongs to such class as is notified by the Government shall not be used for any other purpose except with the permission of the District Collector who shall accord permission only in accordance to the regulations notified by the [Revenue] Board.
Provided that such permission shall be deemed to be accorded where land is being acquired permanently or hired temporarily for public purposes under the relevant Act.
Provided further that the transfer of such land or any interest therein shall not be permissible and no documents relating to the transfer of such land shall be admitted to registration;
(2) The Board shall be competent to notify regulations for the purposes of thissection.”
As per the documents accessed by Ziraat Times, the definition of Agriculture Land and Agriculture and Allied Activities made in the new laws are as under:
Agricultural land – means land which is used or is capable of being used forthe agriculture and allied activities including fallow land;
Agriculture and Allied Activities – shall mean raising of crops including foodand non-food crops, fodder or grass; fruits and vegetables, flowers, any otherhorticultural crops and plantation; animal husbandry and dairy; poultryfarming, stock breeding; fishery; agro forestry, agro-processing and otherrelated activities by farmers and farmer groups.