Srinagar, October 08(Scoop News)- The Minister for Housing and Horticulture, Raman Bhalla today informed the Legislative Council that at the time of partition of the Country and Tribal invasion during 1947 around 31619 families from Pakistan occupied Kashmir and 5764 families from West Pakistan crossed to this side of the border. Out of the 31619 families, 5300 families settled in other parts of the Country and remaining 26319 settled in the State along with 5764 families from West Pakistan.
Replying to the calling attention notice of Ravinder Kumar Sharma about the plight of displaced persons of 1947, 1965 and 1971 in Legislative Council today, the Minister said during 1965 and 1971 war around 10065 families shifted to safer places, out of which 8100 families have been settled in 156 Basties established in District Jammu, Samba and Kathua and the remaining made their own arrangements in other Urban areas.
He said out of the 26319 families of POK refugees of 1947, 21116 families settled in rural areas and were provided around 10 lakh kanals of land. With regard to the remaining families who opted to settle in Urban Areas, around 2421 families were provided plots/quarters. He said some of the rural families represented that they have not been provided land as per the fixed scale and accordingly 2814 families have been identified and they have been provided compensation against the land deficiency @ Rs. 30000/- per kanal subject to ceiling of Rs. 1.50 lakh per family. So far an amount of Rs. 30.64 crore has been disbursed in favour of 2440 families and the process is going on.
The Minister said around 198 families have been identified from Urban areas who were not provided plots adding that funds have been earmarked for meeting their requirements of plots. He said with regard to the West Pakistan Refugees, no major facilities could be provided to them as they are not permanent residents of the State however around 46000 kanals of land have been occupied by these families, but they have no ownership rights on the said land. With regard to 1965 and 1971 Chamb Refugees, about 8100 families were settled in Basties, and have also been provided land as per the scale fixed for POK Refugees in 3 Districts. 699 families who were found to be having deficiency in land were provided compensation against the land deficiency @Rs. 5000/- per kanal against Irrigated land and Rs. 3330/- against un-irrigated land subject to the ceiling of Rs. 25000/- per family. He said already 677 families have received this compensation.
Further the Minister informed that around 1965 families have settled in non-camp areas and already 1502 claims have been verified and they have been provided compensation @Rs. 25000/- per family. About 1230 families have already received this compensation and in respect of remaining 272 families, the compensation shall be provided very soon, the Minister added.
The Minister said that for settlement of the genuine demands, the State Government is also having regular interaction with Government of India. The State Government is committed to address genuine issues of these refugees, he added.
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