J&K Cabinet approves amendment in PM's package for return of KPs

The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet on Friday in a meeting chaired by chief minister Omar Abdullah approved the amendment in the Prime Minister's package to allow the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, including Kashmiri Pandits.

The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet on Friday in a meeting chaired by chief minister Omar Abdullah approved the amendment in the Prime Minister's package to allow the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, including Kashmiri Pandits.

HT Image

The package announced by the PM during his visit to the state in April, 2008, provides assistance of Rs 7.5 lakh per family for purchase or construction of a house in the Group Housing Societies. This assistance can be availed by those who have sold their properties between 1989 and May 30, 1997, when the J&K Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection and Restraint of Distress Sale) Act, 1997, was enacted.

However, after the amendment, Kashmiri migrant families, on returning to Kashmir, can avail incentives for construction or reconstruction of houses available under the Prime Minister's package, even if they have sold their properties before or after 1997.

The amendments will allow deputy commissioners of Kashmir to identify government land for setting up of clusters for such families, for construction of houses or group housing societies. In case of non-availability of government land, the deputy commissioners shall identify land for acquisition.

The land to be acquired for the construction of individual houses or for group housing societies shall be identified at such places where there is no dislocation of the local population.

The revised cost estimates for the acquisition of land and construction of houses for those migrants who have sold their properties after 1997 shall be worked out and included in the revised package for sending to the central government.

The state government will approach the Centre for incorporating the land acquisition component in the package and the release of funds thereof.

Features of the PM's package

Repair or reconstruction of fully or partially-damaged houses Rs 7.5 lakh per family
Purchase or construction of a house in group housing societies Rs 7.5 lakh per family
Dilapidated unused houses Rs 2 lakh per family

Who can avail the package

People who have sold their properties during the period after 1989 and before the enactment of the J&K Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection and Restraint of Distress Sale) Act, 1997, on May 30, 1997