Srinagar, Mar 17 (JKNS): The Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board has strongly dismissed allegations regarding the leasing of Waqf land in Sumbal, terming them baseless and misleading. The Board said the entire exercise reflects transparency and a significant boost in revenue generation.
According to officials, claims that the orchard was “secretly leased without advertisement or tender” are factually incorrect. They said the process was properly documented and publicly verifiable, with advertisements issued through newspapers and the notice also uploaded on the Board’s official website to ensure wider participation. Officials termed the use of digital platforms a progressive step towards transparency.
Officials further said the decision to lease part of the orchard followed a detailed administrative and financial review aimed at addressing its declining condition. Spread over 692 kanals, the orchard had witnessed deterioration over the years, with several trees becoming unproductive and parts turning disease-prone.
To address this, 159 kanals of barren and low-yield land were identified for long-term leasing and divided into four patches to encourage diversification and investor participation. Officials said this approach aligns with modern horticultural and financial practices.
They said the Board introduced a revised financial model, fixing a base lease rate of ₹25,180 per kanal annually with a 5 percent yearly increase, which is higher than prevailing private rates. Additionally, a premium of ₹1 lakh per kanal has been introduced, amounting to around ₹1.59 crore as upfront revenue, with further gains expected through the bidding process.
The remaining 533 kanals have been placed under a three-year auction framework. Officials said earlier auctions generated around ₹2 crore for the entire land, while the new model incorporates reforms such as shifting operational costs to contractors, which were previously borne by the Board and had contributed to financial strain.
They added that these expenses, estimated at over ₹21 lakh annually, had impacted the orchard’s sustainability. Despite this, the Board fixed a base price of ₹1.15 crore for the auction, higher than projected estimates, to maximise returns.
Financial data shows that over the past seven years, the orchard generated an average annual income of ₹64 lakh, with nearly 60 percent spent on maintenance, leaving a net return of about ₹30 lakh. Officials termed this model unsustainable.
Under the new framework, officials estimate that if applied to the entire orchard, it could generate around ₹7 crore in upfront revenue along with nearly ₹2 crore in annual income, without additional operational burden on the Board.
Officials said the initiative marks a major shift towards financial efficiency, converting a low-yield asset into a sustainable revenue source for public welfare. They added that similar reforms may be extended to other orchard lands managed by the Board across Kashmir.
Rejecting all allegations, officials maintained that the process was conducted strictly as per norms, from advertisement to financial structuring. They described the Sumbal initiative as a reform-driven step aimed at ensuring transparency, improving revenue and safeguarding Waqf assets for the future. (JKNS)
