SRINAGAR, June 22:Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Syed Basharat Bukhari informed the House that in tehsil Hiranagar of district Kathua, the crop compensation in respect of state land for C1, C2, C3 and C4 has not been paid due to the fact that Ministry of Defence intimated that no payment be being made in respect of the state land under occupation of the farmers, which was subsequently utilized for installing land mines.

Replying to a question by Mr Kuldeep Raj, the Minister said that accordingly, in reference to the aforesaid communication, deliberations took place at various levels, between the state government and the officials of the Ministry of Defence, but without any fruitful results.

The Minister said, however, despite clear instructions issued by the Government the crop compensation in respect of the aforementioned state land used for lying mines, could not be disbursed for want of clearance from the Union Ministry of Defence. He said these instructions were conveyed in 2009 in light of the Roshni Scheme, but since, the said scheme is also under challenge before the High Court. He said the matter needs to be dealt with more caution, so as to withstand the test of Law/Rules in force governing the subject matter.