State Cabinet nod for restructuring of Settlement Operations

Jammu and Kashmir government, on Friday, accorded approval for re-organisation and re-structuring of the institution of Settlement Operations in the state. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

"As per the decision, a combined Settlement (Preparation and Upgradation of Records) and Land Records (Maintenance of Records) in one organisation would be designated as Survey and Land Records. Accordingly, the post of Settlement Commissioner has been re-designated as Commissioner Survey and Land Records Jammu and Kashmir (Ex-officio Settlement Commissioner)," a spokesman said.

He said the Cabinet also created nine settlement divisions for the purpose to be headed by Regional Directors, Survey and Land Records.

"The cabinet also re-designated the post of one Joint Settlement Commissioner, two Joint Agrarian Reforms Commissioners, two Director Land Records and two Settlement Officers as Regional Directors, Survey and Land Records," the spokesman said.

He said the functions of proposed Regional Director, Survey and Land Records (Ex-officio Settlement Officer) in the first instance in Leh and Kargil districts were assigned to respective Additional Deputy Commissioners in addition to their own duties.

The Cabinet also approved construction of balance part of Ravi Canal upstream Basantpur village (Ranjit Sagar Dam) at Satwain in Kathua district of Jammu at a cost of Rs 275.14 crores and utilisation of 10 per cent of the water usage charges for the purpose, the spokesman said.

He said the Cabinet also accorded approval to the allotment of additional 80 Kanals (four Hectares) of land for construction of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) at Industrial Estate Ompura in central Kashmir's Budgam district.

The Cabinet directed the concerned Department to pursue the matter of reserving 50 per cent of seats in the NIFT for students belonging to the state, he said.

The Cabinet also accorded approval to the award of contract to M/S Costal Project Limited for the construction of 48 MW Lower Kalnai Hydro Electric Project at an EPC cost of Rs 396 crores as per the terms and conditions of NIT, he said.