Srinagar Dec 18: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Ghulam Ahmad Mir Saturday said the agricultural land needs to be protected in J&K rather than changing its status from agricultural to non-agricultural land.

According to a statement, Mir also demanded roll back of the decision which is bound to cause restlessness in Jammu as well as in Kashmir.

JKPCC President urged the government not to disturb the land status in Jammu and Kashmir as that will lead to further disappointment and restlessness among the people, which has to be avoided.

Many random decisions including the recent one on land use policy have been rolled out, Mir added and slammed the recent change in land use laws announced by the Jammu and Kashmir Govt while demanding immediate roll back of the decisions keeping in view the significance of agricultural land and interests of the people.

J&K has vast horticulture production, which is the backbone of its economy, so the government must take measures to boost the Horticulture production rather than changing land use policy, Mir emphasized.

JKPCC president said that land conversion amounts to demographic changes in J&K, which is not acceptable while having its far reaching repercussions.

Mir also referred the directions of the Supreme Court and High Court that no permission should be granted for conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural purposes, which the center has also assured the people of J&K, from time to time and needs to be respected.