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| Will ensure you get justice: Guv's advisor to affected farmers | | Srinagar Semi Ring Road project | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, July 4: Governor NN Vohra's advisor Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, who also looks after Revenue department, on Wednesday assured the farmers affected by Ring Road project that they would get justice during land acquisition.
A delegation of affected farmers had a meeting with Ganai at Civil Secretariat here wherein they apprised him about the injustice being done with them in Jammu and as well as in Kashmir valley.
The farmers appealed Ganai to make sure farmers in J&K get similar compensation that is given to their counterparts in other parts of the country. He assured the delegation that administration will look into this issue seriously.
Meanwhile, Ganai directed Commissioner Secretary Revenue to have a look into the issue and asked him to see if J&K can follow the NHAI pattern adopted in other states of India. The delegation later on had a detailed interaction with Shahid Inayatullah, Commissioner Secretary Revenue Department as well. He too gave a sympathetic hearing to the delegation the farmers said
As reported already, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is constructing an alternate highway in Kashmir valley known as Srinagar Semi Ring Road connecting Gallandar Pampore with Ganderbal. The road passes via Khanda, Chattergam, Wathoora, Panzan, Gudsathoo, Ichgam, Budgam, Pallar, Dharmuna, Check e Razak Khan, Ranbir Grah and many other areas.
In the first phase, Gallandar to Sumbal project will be taken up and then in the second phase Sumbal -Manigam road link will be executed. Most of the affected district will be Budgam as around 4700 kanals of land will be acquired. In Ganderbal 2341 kanals of land will be acquired. The NHAI will be executing this project and it has already deposited the required funds into the accounts of respective Deputy Commissioners (DCs). The process of payment of land compensation has already started. This "prestigious project" is monitored by Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
"The NHAI pays adequate compensation to the farmers/other persons whose land and property is acquired for construction of highways in other states of India. Four times in rural areas, two times in urban areas but not in J&K as Right to Fair Compensation under Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (RFCLARR Act 2013) enacted by the government of India in 2013 is not applicable in our state. Our land is being forcibly occupied by NHAI and collectors are its collaborators. NHAI is not ready for private negotiation which is a provision in J&K Land Acquisition Act," reads the memorandum submitted by Land Owners Welfare Committee to Ganai.
Pertinent to mention that Indian Railways recently paid five times more compensation than market land to affected farmers in Gujarat and Maharashtra for Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project.
The delegation apprised Ganai that the assessment made for fruit trees is also very less. "Mere Rs 16/ kg is paid to apple farmers who trees would be axed down. For plum fruit estimate is made @ Rs 13/kg only while as this fruit sells five times more in market," said Mohammad Afzal, an aggrieved farmer from Wathoora Budgam.
"The NHAI has already allotted the contract to RAMKY Infrastructure Ltd. Instead of coming to rescue of people or pleading their case authorities are trying to snatch our land and to handover the same to NHAI. Where shall the landless farmers go? We can't even purchase new land as compensation paid is very meager. The market rate is 3 to 4 times more than stamp rate in most of the places. Having mere 32% Agriculture land availability in J&K, it is the duty of government to protect it, but instead of doing so, our precious land is sold to NHAI for a paltry compensation. On the other hand barren, un-irrigated lands in Rajasthan, MP, Odhisa and other states are given to 4 to 5 times more than the market value of land by the same authority (NHAI). Also, the affected people are rehabilitated and resettled as well," said G A Paul, president Land Owners Welfare Committee. |
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