New Delhi, Apr 4: The Centre today decided to give a big hike in rentals for the land hired or requisitioned by armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

The hike is in the range of 2.1 to 5 times for various categories of land. The revised rate structure will come into effect retrospectively from February 16, 2008 and will remain in force for five years till February 15, 2013.

The measures taken at the initiative of the Defence Minister AK Antony will provide succour to the people of the State who would now get a realistic payment for their land.

The decision comes close on the heels of Antony's visit to the Kashmir Valley last Saturday.

For the Class-1 category of irrigated land, the rate per kanal per annum has been increased from Rs. 1125 to Rs. 3381 while for the 'Irrigated-Double Cropped' category the hike is still higher from the existing Rs. 1688 to Rs. 4087 per kanal per annum.

For the Class-II category of irrigated land, the rate has been increased from Rs. 1125 to Rs. 3200 and for the unirrigated category, the new rate is Rs. 1390 against the previous figure of Rs. 563 per kanal per annum.

For the Class-III 'Un-cultivable' category, the increase is from the existing Rs. 413 to the new figure of Rs. 895.

For the fruit bearing orchards, the hike has been substantial from the existing rate of Rs. 1575 to Rs. 10,000 per kanal per annum.

For the land falling under Jammu Municipal Corporation, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Poonch Municipal Council and Srinagar/Jammu Cantonment areas, the rate has been raised from Rs. 6750 to Rs. 33,750 per kanal per annum.

Still, the rate for lands falling under Municipal Councils has been increased from Rs. 3375 to Rs. 16, 875 while that of lands falling under Municipal Committees, from Rs. 2700 to Rs. 13, 500 per kanal per annum.

It may be recalled that an expert panel was constituted by the Government to determine whether there was a need to re-locate and re-configure the existing security forces, keeping in mind the security requirements of the State and also to review the application of the Armed Forces (J-K) Special Powers Act, 1990.

The rates of rentals for the requisitioned land for Armed Forces in Jammu and Kashmir are revised every five years and were last revised with effect from February 16, 2003. (ANI)