Srinagar, Feb 6: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the government has approved the allotment of five marlas of state land on a long-term lease to landless families rendered homeless due to natural calamities during 2025.

In a written reply to a question raised by BJP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said the decision was cleared by the Council of Ministers and formalised through a government order issued on January 2.

Under the approved policy, eligible landless families affected by floods, flash floods, landslides, cloudbursts and earthquakes will be allotted five marlas of state land exclusively for residential purposes. The land will be provided on a lease basis for 40 years without charging any premium.

The Chief Minister informed the House that beneficiaries will be required to pay a nominal annual ground rent of Rs 10 per marla during the lease period. He said the lease can be extended further in accordance with rules after approval by the competent authority, subject to conditions laid down in the government order.

Omar Abdullah further said that substantial financial assistance has already been provided to families affected by flash floods and landslides in Udhampur district. He informed that over Rs 23.49 crore has been disbursed among more than 6,400 affected families.

According to details shared in the House, a total of 6,449 families across Udhampur, Chenani, Ramnagar and Latti-Marothi tehsils received compensation as per prescribed norms. Udhampur tehsil accounted for 2,666 families who were sanctioned around Rs 9.32 crore, while 1,208 families in Chenani tehsil received assistance exceeding Rs 5 crore. In Ramnagar tehsil, 2,298 families were provided relief amounting to Rs 7.86 crore, and 277 families in Latti-Marothi tehsil were sanctioned over Rs 1 crore.

The Chief Minister said damage assessments were carried out by field teams and all eligible cases were verified strictly in line with State Disaster Response Fund norms. He added that the sanctioned relief was transferred directly to beneficiaries through prescribed financial channels.

He said the government has also initiated measures for long-term rehabilitation of families rendered landless due to natural calamities by providing state land for housing under approved norms. [KNT]