Jammu and Kashmir Government Aid to Agriculturists and Land Improvement Act, 1993 (1936 A. D.)

No: 7 Dated: Mar, 12 1993

THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR GOVERNMENT AID TO AGRICULTURISTS AND LAND IMPROVEMENT ACT, 1993 (1936 A. D.)

Act No VII of 1993

    Preamble. - Whereas it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law relating to, and make better provision for, grant of loans by the Government for the agricultural improvements and for relief of distress among zamindars;

It is hereby enacted as follows :-

1. Title, extent and commencement. - (1) This Act may be called the Jammu and Kashmir Government Aid to Agriculturists and Land Improvement Act, 1993.

(2) It extends to the whole of the Jammu and Kashmir State.

(3) It shall come into force on 19th Har, 1993.

2. Repeal of, and reference to previous rules. - (1) On and from the day on which this Act comes into force, all Rules and Standing Orders, as per Schedule A annexed to this Act, regarding grant of taccavi for construction of wells, etc., and for relief of distress amongst zamindars shall, except as regards the recovery of advances made before this Act comes into force, and of costs incurred by the Government in respect of such advances and of the interest thereon, be repealed.

(2) When in any Regulation or rules passed or issued before this Act comes into force, reference is made to the Rules and Standing Orders repealed under sub-section (1) above, the reference shall, as far as may be practicable, be read as applying to this Act, or the corresponding part of this Act.

3. Definitions. - In this Act, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context,-

(1) "improvement" means any work which adds to the letting value of land, and includes the following, namely :-

(a) the construction of wells, tanks and other works for the storage, supply or distribution of water for the purpose of agriculture, or for the use of men and cattle employed in agriculture ;

(b) the preparation of land for irrigation :

(c) the drainage, reclamation from rivers or other waters, or protection from floods or from erosion or other damage by water, of land used for agricultural purposes or waste-land which is culturable ;

(d) the reclamation, clearance, enclosure or permanent improvement of land for agricultural purposes ;

(e) the planting of trees for agricultural purposes and construction of cattle sheds ;

(f) installation of plant, machinery and improved farm implements with a view to adopting modem methods of agriculture and for developing agricultural industry ;

(g) the renewal or reconstruction of any of the foregoing works, or alterations therein or additions thereto ;

(h) such other works as the Government may, by notification in the Government Gazette, declare to be improvements for the purposes of this Act ;

(2) "distress" means any extraordinary natural or other calamity affecting agricultural operations or resources, such as the failure or destruction of crops or damage to articles of husbandry or cattle by draughts, frost, rust, floods, cloud-burst, hail, blight, locusts, fire or by disease or other physical visitations ;

(3) by the term 'Agriculturists' is meant a person who is a member of an Agricultural class under the Jammu and Kashmir Alienation of Land Act, V of 1995, and also includes for the purpose of this Act a person who ordinarily resides in a village as defined in the Jammu and Kashmir Village Panchayat Act, 1958.