In a major land acquisition drive for highway development, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has secured over 3,100 Kanal of land in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district, including parcels categorised as Gair Mumkin Khad—typically denoting uncultivable water channels or streambeds.

According to a written response by the Revenue Department to a query raised by MLA Surjeet Singh Salathia, a total of 3,179 Kanal of land has been acquired. Of this, 112 Kanal and some marlas are classified as Gair Mumkin Khad.

The state government further confirmed that Rs 7.67 billion has been disbursed as compensation to landowners, with Rs 3.50 billion allocated specifically for the land acquired under this initiative. Importantly, the government noted that there are no pending compensation liabilities at present.

The disclosure comes amid broader conversations around land classification, environmental considerations, and the fairness of compensation in ongoing infrastructure projects throughout Jammu and Kashmir.