Over 200 Investors Secure Land In J&K Post Article 370 Abrogation

Over 200 investors from outside Jammu and Kashmir have been provided land in the industrial estates to set up their business units in Jammu and Kashmir in the past decade, official data said. The process of land acquisition by outside investors, mostly from Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, marked manifold increase after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories in August 2019.

According to the data shared by the industries and commerce department, the majority of investors preferred Kathu and Samba districts in Jammu region to establish their firms compared to a very few businessmen showing interest in the Valley.

Under the industrial policy 2016-26, a total of 28 businessmen from different parts of the country were allotted over 500 kanals of land to set up their units in the twin districts of Samba and Kathua. The allotment of land varies depending on the investment proposal.

However, the introduction of the amended industrial policy 2021-30 after the abrogation of Article 370 saw businessmen from Delhi, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu also eyeing the region for investment.

Almost 50 businessmen from Delhi have been allotted land in Jammu and Kashmir, followed by Haryana (45), Punjab (43), Uttar Pradesh (14), Maharashtra (nine) and seven each from Gujarat, Chandigarh, and Himachal Pradesh.