Jammu, February 9
Amid acrimonious scenes, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today passed a Bill seeking to confer ownership rights on farmers on government land spread over an area of nearly 17 lakh kanal that has been encroached by them in the state.

The Bill that was earlier introduced by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad would grant property rights to the farmers over the encroached land.

Prior to the passing of the Bill, there were heated arguments between the opposition National Conference (NC) members and those on the treasury benches. Both sides raised slogans in the house. The Bill was put to voting by Speaker Tara Chand, who adjourned the house till afternoon because of the chaos, after announcing that the legislation has been passed by voice vote as the NC members trooped into the well of the house and raised slogans against the government.

The NC members were annoyed that the Speaker took up the Bill for discussion in their absence while they were deliberating among themselves over the issue of human rights violations on which the house was also adjourned earlier in the morning.

Abdul Rahim Rather, leader of the opposition, took exception to the Speaker, who, in their absence rejected the amendments moved by the NC members.

Muzaffar Hussain Beig (PDP) suggested to the Speaker to allow them to move their amendments by relaxing rules. However, Taj Mohiuddin, Consumer Affairs Minister, said rules should not be bent every time to please the opposition. However, Rather contended that how did the Speaker take up this particular Bill first although it was listed at serial number three.

Amidst pandemonium, Mohiuddin sought voting on the Bill while Azad was discussing the matter with Beig.

Azad said it was decided in the cabinet meeting this morning to regularise these encroachments free of cost. The farmers shall have to pay a fee of Rs 100 for each kanal of land towards its mutation.

The Bill also seeks to fix separate slabs of rates for regularising encroachments on land for commercial, residential and institutional use.

Jammu, February 9
Nine of the total 31 cement units functioning in Jammu division have been issued notices for violating the environmental norms while one such unit has been issued with notice of closure by the state pollution control board.

Disclosing this in the state’s Legislative Council here yesterday, Minister of State for Industries and Commerce Romesh Sharma said.

He said the pollution control board had issued closure order in respect of one unit and issued notices to nine others for violation of the Air and Water Act.

The minister was responding to the question raised by Arvinder Singh of the ruling Congress Party, who alleged that not a single unit had been adhering to the norms set by the pollution control board.

The minister further stated that three more units were coming up in the state, including two in Udhampur and one in Kathua, which have been provisionally registered with the district industries centres concerned.