Govt slows down on housing plan for Pandits

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 5

The Modi government’s proposal to build “composite townships” in Jammu and Kashmir to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits is yet to be cleared by the Union Cabinet, say sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). 

Also, the state is yet to inform the Centre if it has earmarked land for the purpose. The plan was announced a year ago.

“When the PDP-BJP government was installed in J&K, several rounds of consultations were held between Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on the issue,” the sources said, adding that beyond that nothing had moved so far.

A senior MHA official said: “We have worked out the broad contours of the plan. But these have to be formalised and placed before the Union Cabinet for approval. Cabinet approval can be sought only after land is identified and earmarked in the Valley.”

According to the J&K proposal sent to the Centre, displaced Kashmiri Pandits will be given Rs 20 lakh each to purchase a flat in the township. At least three townships will come up in the Valley to rehabilitate 10,000 such families.