Jammu, Feb 19 || The Jammu and Kashmir government said on Thursday that its prized properties in New Delhi, Amritsar and Chandigarh are not in its control and are under the occupation of others.
The government said this in a written reply to a cut motion by MLA Sajad Gani Lone.
The disclosure has raised questions over how assets of such huge financial value slipped out of the J&K government’s control.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Minister in charge of the Hospitality and Protocol Department, said that 96 kanals of the J&K government are currently occupied by the Military Engineering Service under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
"The Jammu and Kashmir Government owns a property known as “Kashmir House” spanning 114 Kanals and 11.2 Marlas at Rajaji Marg in New Delhi. Of this, 96 Kanals are currently occupied by the Military Engineering Wing under the Ministry of Defence (Engineer-in-Chief), and the issue has persistently been taken up with the Estates Department as well as the Ministry of Defence,” the Minister’s reply said.
The Minister said that one Kanal and 11. 2 Marlas of land were successfully retrieved on June 5, 2023.