Sir,
This refers to article titled “Denying Land Compensation Information ” by Raja Muzaffar Bhatt (DE 3.01.2019). On one hand Government is forcibly snatching land from farmers of J&K and on the other hand Revenue officers like Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) Budgam who is also the Collector Land Acquisition for Semi Ring Road Srinagar / Budgam is unwilling to share information to the aggrieved farmers. Shockingly ACR (Budgam) who is not even the Public Information Officer (PIO) under JK RTI Act 2009 has sent response to information seeker which is against the provisions of RTI law.
The designated PIO i.e. Additional Deputy Commissioner Budgam is not at all seen in the picture. It is the duty of State Information Commission (SIC) to take matter with him as he has delegated his powers to ACR Budgam and wants to play safe .
If an aggrieved farmers’ can’t have access to awards prepared already by the Collector in favour of farmers from different villages what kind of transparency and accountability Government claims to be taking to peoples doorsteps ? The stamp rates are already very low in J&K especially in Jammu district and if authorities cause mental agony to affected landowners this will further aggravate the problem.
How can Collector make payments to affected farmers when the final awards are yet to be finalized ? This issue needs to be probed by authorities. Governor Satyapal Malik and his Advisors K K Sharma , Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and K Vijay Kumar must sit and deliberate upon enactment of new land acquisition in J&K. Let a proposal be sent to President of India in this regard as State is under President’s rule. How can Government snatch land that costs Rs 50 lakhs / kanal while as affected farmers are paid mere Rs 2 lakhs / kanal as compensation ? Stamp duty rates also needs to be enhanced. Lastly people whose custodian land is being acquired should also be adequately compensated
Sanjeev Kumar
Trikuta Nagar, Jammu
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