In a positive development, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration has created a massive land bank of 25,000 kanals of land to attract new industries, boost the Union Territory (UT)'s economy and create employment, reports Times of India.

The administration has transferred 25,000 kanals (1 kanal= 5445sqft) of Government-owned land to the UT's Department of Industries and Commerce, 17,000 kanals of which lies in the Jammu division, and 8,000 kanals lies in Kashmir division. These lands comprise of non-forest, non-agricultural, primarily barren land parcels. It should be noted that roughly 8 kanals equals to 1 acre.

The UT's Industrial Police-2016 had envisaged creating a land bank of 20,000 kanals across the then state ofJ&K which also comprised of Ladakh. The land bank was to be created over ten long years. However, more than what was envisaged in the policy now stands accomplished.

It should also be noted that before 2018, the UT's Department of Industries and Commerce had established 49 industrial estates across J&K over a total area of 31,448 kanals. The new land bank of 25,000 kanals will add to those existing estates.