Jammu, March 28, 2026 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday informed the Assembly that the government has successfully retrieved and restored large tracts of encroached land belonging to Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.
Key Figures
- 📍 Total land restored: 3,729 kanals and 4 marlas
- 📅 Since Nov 2024: 844 kanals and 4 marlas retrieved
- 💰 Land worth crores had been illegally occupied over the years
The restoration is being carried out under the Jammu and Kashmir Migrant Immovable Property Act, aimed at safeguarding properties of migrants who were displaced during the turmoil of the 1990s.
District-Wise Restoration
Significant land recovery has been reported in:
- Shopian: 283 kanals
- Baramulla: 225 kanals
- Ganderbal: 146 kanals
Other districts include Anantnag, Bandipora, Budgam, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Srinagar.
Administrative Measures
- 👨💼 Deputy Commissioners acting as custodians of migrant properties
- 📌 Additional DCs appointed as nodal officers
- 📊 Geo-tagging & transparent handover of properties
- ⚖️ FIRs to be registered in encroachment cases
- 🧭 Steering Committee overseeing implementation
Grievance Redressal
- 📥 Applications received: 10,173
- ✅ Disposed: 9,713
- ✔️ Approved: 7,829
- ⏳ Pending: 24 cases only
Outreach camps will be held in Jammu from April 1 to April 28 for on-the-spot grievance resolution.
Rehabilitation & Welfare Measures
- 💵 ₹3,250 per person/month (₹13,000 per family cap) via DBT
- 🍚 Free ration benefits
- 🏠 5,248 two-room tenements constructed
- 🏢 4,112 out of 6,000 transit accommodations completed
- 💼 6,000 jobs sanctioned; 5,896 already filled
Significance
This large-scale retrieval marks a crucial step towards restoring rights, dignity, and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, addressing decades-old grievances linked to displacement.
