In a bid to hide failures, helmsmen fudge figures
|| SHAHJAHAN AFZAL
In the sheer violation of land revenue and forest acts Kashmir is losing cultivable land due to unchecked sprawl of human habitations, army camps, expansion and construction of roads, commercial and official complexes, posing serious threat to food security and fragile environment of the region. However, the authorities stick to the old figures to keep right signals to the public to avoid wrath for miserably failing in checking the unabated conversions. Sources in the revenue department say that in past, few departments tried to revise the figures with actual data but were reportedly snubbed by a section of seniors in their respective departments.
If official sources are to be believed, Baramullah, Bandipora&Kupwara the three districts of north Kashmir lose 150 to 200 acres annually at an average to colonies, shopping complexes, roads and other government constructions.
The total available area in year 2000-2001 under “permanent pastures and grazing fields” in Kupwara was 7107 hectares, which as per the department’s revised 2012-13 report shows it reduced to just 1949 hectares. Land available for cultivation of rice in the year 1996-97 was 17337 hectares in Kupwara. As per its 2012-13 report the same area has reduced to 15639 hectares.
The data collected by state’s sta tistics and evaluation department substantiates the baffling trend in its reports released annually. For instance, the total avail- able area in year 2000-2001 under “permanent pastures and grazing fields” in Kupwara was 7107 hect- ares, which as per the department’s revised 2012-13 report shows it reduced to just 1949 hectares. Land available for cultivation of rice in the year 1996-97 was 17337 hectares in Kupwara. As per its 2012-13 report the same area has reduced to 15639 hectares.
The report shows the land avail- able for cultivation of vegetables in the year 1996-97 was 5713 hectares which was reduced to just 499 hect- ares in 2012-13. To keep right signals in public the departments have updated the same figures in all the above three cases in its annual sur- vey report. The available land for the cultiva- tion of fodder in the year 1996-97 was 768 hectares the recent report shows that the same continues to be reduced to zero since the year 2011- 12. Officials in the agriculture department believe that the trend of land conversion continues to flour- ish unabated giving serious implications on the food security of people and fodder for animals including wildlife while referring to the con- version, forest fires and its loot.
An estimation made by the Directorate of Agriculture Jammu, food grain requirement for the State works out to 25 lac MT per annum as against the tentative production of about 20.65 Lac MT during 2013-14. Therefore the State faces a deficiency of 4.35 Lac MT of food grains which is provided by the CAPD through the rationing system and open market. The situation is of grave concern. If it was not controlled immediately may lead serious threat to food security.
Land available for cultivation of rice in the year 1996-97 was 17337 hectares in Kupwara. As per its 2012-13 report the same area has reduced to 15639 hectares. The economic survey shows a visible decline in the number of sheep. In the year 1997 the number of sheep was 291000 and the same has now got reduced to 194188.
With the occupation and conver sion of permanent pastures and grazing fields there has been a visible decline also in the number of livestock. Ironically the authorities have updated the same old figures in its recent 2013-2014 report. Number of cattle which in 1997 as per the report was 247900, in year 2011-12 the department shows it reduced to 199704. Similarly the number of buffalo in the year 1997 was 5627, in the year 2011-12 it shows it reduced to 2046.
The survey shows decreasing trend in the poultry like thrust area. The number of poultry birds in the year 2003 used to be 620000, the agriculture department in its 2011- 12 shows the number decreased to 458282. The economic survey shows a visible decline in the number of sheep. In the year 1997 the number of sheep was 291000 and the same has now got reduced to 194188. According to experts, the usage of agricultural, horticultural or forest land for residential or commercial purposes has brought the pictur- esque Kashmir on the brink of food disaster.
As per the available information, there is a growing deficit in food grain production in relation of population growth here. An estimation made by the Directorate of Agriculture Jammu, food grain requirement for the State works out to 25 lac MT per annum as against the tentative production of about 20.65 Lac MT during 2013- 14. Therefore the State faces a defi- ciency of 4.35 Lac MT of food grains which is provided by the CAPD through the rationing system and open market.
The situation is of grave concern. If it was not controlled immediately may lead serious threat to food security. As per the tentative figures with Jammu and Kashmir Land Accusation Department except forest land the security agencies only in Kupwara district are occupying 10000 kanals of land where they pay the rent through the department. Official sources said that the rent cases of more 1500 kanals are under process with the department. The occupied area mostly in- cludes cultivable land. More so it does not include the land that the agencies have taken after eruption of militancy as against which they don’t pay any rent.
The experts suggest that an uncompromised blanket ban on the purchase, conversion and selling of agricultural land and any kind of future encroachment whether it is from army, paramilitary or state government itself or from a civilian, should be imposed so as to delay and control the tickling disaster”. With new regime (PDP – BJP) in power it is to be seen whether they would continue their previous prac- tice of fudging figures to keep right signals in the public or bring factual figures to fore.
