Revenue Deptt initiates process to demarcate state land in Sonamarg

Ganderbal, Sep 11: The revenue department in Ganderbal has initiated the process of demarcation of the state land in health resort Sonamarg that is to be transferred to the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) for the use.

Official sources told Greater Kashmir that the Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal has constituted a special team of revenue officials for the demarcation of State land in Sonamarg that had been transferred to the Tourism Development Authority.

The team, headed by the Sub Divisional Magistrate Kangan, includes Tehsildar Gund and other officials of the revenue department from the district.

Officials said that the team will demarcate the parcels of land as per Government Order No. Rev(S) 256 of 2007 dated 25 July 2007, and hand them over to the Sonamarg Development Authority against proper receipt. The demarcation report, along with the handover/takeover record, is to be submitted within two weeks.

A senior official of the revenue department here said that the process has been made to demarcate the land which will be given to the possession of SDA .

Pertinently, the process has been initiated after a period of almost 18 years since  the Jammu and Kashmir government issued a landmark order to transfer over 7,674 kanals and 17 marlas of state land to the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) in 2007 by then PDP-Congress coalition government.

Issued on July 25, 2007, under Government Order No. Rev(S) 256 of 2007, the directive from the Revenue Department was intended to fuel eco-friendly development in Sonamarg, one of Kashmir’s most picturesque and ecologically sensitive tourist destinations. The prolonged delay in demarcation has not only impeded planned development but also triggered a surge in unauthorized constructions and land encroachments in Sonamarg.