Maharashtra becomes the first state to buy land in Kashmir for tourism

Maharashtra has decided to purchase 2.5 acres of land in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Maharashtra is the first state to purchase land in Jammu and Kashmir. The Shinde government of Maharashtra will build a guest house - Rajya Bhawan on this land for its tourists visiting J&K. The State Building will be constructed at a cost of Rs 8.16 crore.

J&K government approves land purchase:

• Maharashtra Bhawan will provide accommodation and other facilities to tourists and officials of the state visiting Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir government has given approval to Maharashtra government to take land in exchange of Rs 8.16 crore. This will mark the first state building in the valley.
• In June last year, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had visited Jammu and Kashmir. During this, he met the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Thereafter, the process of purchasing land for Maharashtra Bhawan started.

Maharashtra Cabinet approved:

• Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the purchase of land on 13 March 2024. The state government will build Maharashtra Bhavan in Budgam, central Kashmir, located in Srinagar.
• For this, a piece of land of 2.5 acres has been earmarked in Ichgam near Srinagar Airport.

Maharashtra government will also build a state building in Ayodhya:

• Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar said during the budget speech that the state government will construct two Maharashtra Bhawans for tourists and devotees.
• Of these, one will be built in Srinagar while the other will be built in Ayodhya.
• The Maharashtra government has earmarked Rs 77 crore for the construction of these two state buildings.

Situation in Jammu and Kashmir before August 2019:

• The Modi government at the Center, in its second term, had abolished Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August 2019. Also, the state was divided into two parts, Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Prior to the removal of Article 370, only permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir were allowed to purchase land.

Any Indian citizen will be able to buy land:

• The Union Home Ministry had issued a notification in October 2020. It said that any Indian citizen can leave agricultural land in Jammu and Kashmir and buy another land.
• According to the Centre's data, 185 outsiders purchased land in Jammu and Kashmir during 2020-22.

185 people bought land in Jammu and Kashmir till 2020-22:

• According to Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, after the removal of 370, 185 outsiders bought land in Jammu and Kashmir in 2020-22.
• Of these, only one person purchased land in 2020.
  • In 2021, 57 people bought land. 
  • In 2022, 127 people bought land.

Many multinational companies invested in Jammu and Kashmir:

• The Center said that during 2020 to 2022, a total of 1,559 Indian companies, including multinational companies, also invested in J&K.
• However, during these three years, neither any outsider has purchased land nor any Indian or multinational company has invested in Ladakh.