Army to revise rates of hired land

On a two-day visit to the state, the Defence Minister said the groundwork for revision of rent rates has already started.

"The Defence Minister announced that rate of rent of private land under occupation of armed forces will be revised next year by the Defence Ministry, groundwork for which has already started," the Ministry said in a statement.

The rates are revised every five years by the Ministry and the last revision was held in 2008.

The total area under possession of Army, Air Force and Navy in Jammu and Kashmir is 72651 acres.

In 2010, the Defence Minister had told Parliament that out of the hired or requisitioned lands, 15,496 acres are agricultural land and 396 acres are orchard land.

"Rent for hired land is revised every five years and the present rates were revised with effect from February 16, 2008, and the next revision of rentals is due with effect from February 16, 2013," he had said.