Ladakh got major portion of JK House: CM Omar

Jammu, Mar 18: The apportionment of assets between J&K and Ladakh sparked a debate in the Legislative Assembly with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah clarifying that a significant portion of the JK House in New Delhi was allocated to Ladakh following the distribution of assets between J&K and Ladakh.

However, he said that J&K was not at a disadvantage as the process was carried out through a mutual agreement.

“There are still property disputes between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. We did not want to meet the same fate,” CM Omar said responding to a question by NC legislator Tanvir Sadiq.

However, he informed the house that the government was constructing a J&K Bhavan in the Dwarka area of New Delhi to address accommodation demands.

The CM said that a major part of the JK House went to Ladakh following the Reorganisation Act, 2019.

“The apportionment and distributions of assets of erstwhile J&K was done based on the award and recommendations of the Advisory Committee constituted under Section 85 of the J&K Reorganisation Act and a committee constituted under government order No 1011-GAD of 2009 dated September 12, 2019,” he said.

CM Omar said that a significant portion of the guest house at Chanakyapuri went to Ladakh. “To address the accommodation requirements, the government has purchased a plot measuring 3179.58 sq m. On perpetual leasehold basis from Delhi Development Authority at Plot No 3, Sector 19 Phase 1 Dwarka, New Delhi, for constructing a J&K Bhavan Complex, considering its access roads and proximity to Bhavans of other states,” he said.

The CM also informed the house that a parcel of land measuring 1kanal and 11.2 marlas, which was under the unauthorised occupation of individuals at Kashmir House, had been retrieved.

To a supplementary question about the availability of local cuisine in these houses, he stressed the importance of preserving cultural identity.

“Both local cuisine and architecture will be incorporated,” CM Omar said.

Participating in the discussion, another legislator, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi asked whether the property in Chandigarh was also allocated to Ladakh.

The CM replied in the affirmative.