Srinagar Ring Road construction
Excelsior Correspondent
BUDGAM, Mar 31: Affected farmers in Wathora area of Chadoora have expressed strong resentment against the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), NKC Pvt Ltd and District Administration Budgam as JCBs have been pressed into service to uproot the fruit trees and damage the standing mustard crop.
The farmers who have not received any compensation of the land, alleged that JCB’s have damaged their crop and plundered the fruit trees. The farmers in a statement said that hundreds of apple and plum trees have been uprooted during the last two days and more than 100 kanals of land with mustard crop has been damaged. The affected farmers said that they have not been paid any compensation till date and the Govt was forcibly trespassing into their agricultural land.
“Some farmers have taken part of the compensation for land but many have not. How can JCB’s damage our mustard crop when we have not received even a penny ? The awards have not been prepared in time , they have lapsed long back. This is cruelty. We need justice,” said Gulzar Ahmad Akhoon, a local resident.
The National Highway Authority in association with district administration Budgam and private company- NKC Pvt Ltd began cutting down fully grown apple and plum trees coming under the alignment of the proposed Srinagar -Ring Road. The apple farmers allege that the Government has paid them compensation as per 1996 rates when the wholesale rate of apples and plum was mere Rs 16 per kg in market.
“The compensation for fruit trees has also not been paid fully. The High Court has intervened and given an interim order in our favour as our awards have lapsed and Govt is still plundering our land and crops” said Bashir Ahmad a local resident.
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