Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 29: After a gap of approximately 10 years, over 600 families in Budgam district are poised to receive compensation for 4000 kanals of land which was acquired by the Defence Estates Department in the Srinagar Old Airfield area back in 2013, Zamidaran Committee Karewa Damodar said in a statement today.
In connection with this matter, the committee reported that a delegation of aggrieved landowners from the Karewa Damodar estate (Old Airfield) in Srinagar, led by social activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, held an extensive meeting with senior officers at the DG Defence Estates Office in New Delhi earlier on Monday.
“The senior officers at the DG Defence Estates Office in New Delhi conveyed that a payment exceeding Rs 600 crore had been sanctioned by the Government of India. This amount would be disbursed to the landowners through the Defence Estates Officer in Srinagar and the Deputy Commissioner of Budgam.”
It’s important to note that the landowners, who are also farmers, had been waiting for their payment for a considerable period. While an initial payment of Rs 4.80 lakhs per kanal had already been made to each family. “The rates were increased to Rs 18 to 20 lakhs per kanal, and the revised payment was not distributed to the families.”
Previously, the landowners, along with some prominent social activists, had met with the GOC 15 Corps Lt. Gen. ADC Aujla in Srinagar last year and informed him about the issue.
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