JK News Today
Jammu, March 24 – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday acknowledged the difficulties faced by people living in border areas and announced that his government will hold a meeting with MLAs from these regions in April to discuss their concerns.
He also informed the Legislative Assembly that more than ₹144 crore has been given to farmers whose lands were affected by fencing along the International Border (IB).
Responding to questions from MLAs of different parties, Abdullah said that border residents face serious challenges, and their issues must be addressed. “After this session ends in April, I will meet all MLAs from border areas along with officials. The government will take necessary steps,” he assured.
Several BJP leaders, including Vijay Kumar, Surjit Singh Salathia, Devinder Kumar Manyal, and CPIM leader M.Y. Tarigami, raised concerns about land compensation, farming restrictions near the fencing, and poor living conditions in border villages.
A heated argument broke out between Tarigami and BJP MLA Balwant Manokita when Manokita questioned why Tarigami was asking about border issues, saying his constituency is not in a border area. Tarigami responded, saying he has the right to raise any issue in Jammu and Kashmir and that the region does not belong to one person or party.
Giving details about the compensation, Abdullah said ₹155.08 crore was approved, out of which ₹144.12 crore has already been given to affected landowners. The remaining ₹11 crore is pending because of title verification. “We are not holding back any funds. We will ask the department to speed up the payment process,” he assured.
He also stressed that border problems are not limited to one MLA but affect people across both Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, during the Question Hour, Revenue Minister Sakina Itoo answered a question from Hiranagar MLA Vijay Kumar. She said that the Border Security Force (BSF) had taken 13,415 kanals of land from 113 villages in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts for border fencing along the Indo-Pak border.
She added that the BSF has built fencing along a 135-foot-wide strip in these areas, affecting land use and local livelihoods.
With the government planning a meeting with MLAs next month, border residents hope for quick solutions to their problems.
