Shah Faesal demands fair compensation, rehabilitation to Ring road, Transmission Line affected farmers

Demands probe against allegations of fraudulent payments

Demands probe against allegations of fraudulent payments

Srinagar, Apr 17 (KNS): Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) has demanded that people affected by Semi Ring Road and 440 KV DC Samba-Amargrah transmission line should be rehabilitated, resettled and compensated adequately without any delay as a large number of affected people in many districts are crying for justice from last more than two years.

In a statement issued to KNS, JKPM President Shah Faesal has said that agriculture and horticulture land in the State is under tremendous pressure as state is losing its fertile land on daily basis for developmental projects like highways and transmission lines. In return, due to obsolete land acquisition laws, the affected farmers are not given fair compensation like in other parts of India under Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (RTFCLARR Act) and Right to Fair Compensation.

Shah Faesal has said that the state Govt has no clear policy for rehabilitation and resettlement in J&K.

“A huge chunk of land comprising about 8000 kanals is being acquired for Ring Road projects in Srinagar and Jammu. In return farmers get stamp duty rate of their land which is even 4 to 5 times less than the market value,” Shah Faesal said, adding “agriculture and horticulture departments prepare estimates as per 1993 rates which is sheer injustice with them. With the result the affected orchardists and farmers get 5 to 10 times less compensation than market value.”

He said the affected farmers have alleged that the concerned departments are resorting to favouritism and corruption and prepare vague estimates for compensation.

He said more than 5000 hectares of agriculture and forest land has been affected by 440 KV DC Samba Amargrah transmission line from Samba to Amargrah Sopore adding that in many Budgam villages, the transmission line passes through fully grown apple and pear orchards. Even some residential houses have been affected as they come within the electrical magnetic field especially in Batwodder, Branwar, Kachwari , Watrad villages of Charar-e-Sharief and Khansahib areas in Budgam district. The touts and some employees of Transmission Company are fleecing the common people on the promise of land compensation. The affected farmers have alleged that instead of processing compensation cases of genuine people, money is fraudulently given to people whose land has not come under the said projects.

Shah Faesal said that Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) demands a high-level investigation into the matter so that allegations of fraud in the distribution of compensation are looked into adequately. (KNS) 

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