Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 17: As Prime Minister is scheduled to formally inaugurate the Semi Ring Road, the affected farmers along with several RTI activists held a sit in at Press Enclave here today to press for their demands which includes 4 times more compensation than market value of land plus rehabilitation.
G A Paul, President, Semi Ring Road Land Owners Welfare Association said as per the provisions of new Land Acquisition Rehabilitation & Resettlement Act (LARR) enacted by Congress led UPA Government in 2013, land and property owners get 4 times more compensation than the market value of land/ property in rural areas and 2 times in urban areas, but the said law is not applicable in J&K.
“PM Modi is laying foundation stone for this project on May 19, but we are not satisfied with the kind of process being evolved in the land acquisition. Farmers and land owners are paid much less compensation as compared to what is paid by NHAI in other states, “he said.
Muzaffar Hussain Mir, an aggrieved land owner from Khanda said that the Government should at any cost issue an ordinance for a new version of Land Acquisition Act in J&K so that affected people in J&K get adequate compensation during acquisition process.
Dr Raja Muzaffar, Founder J&K RTI Movement in a statement said that the valley has lost its limited agriculture land to residential colonies, shopping complexes, railways and highways. “Within 15 to 20 years 80 to 90 % of the villagers will be landless and on the other hand State Government is doing sheer injustice with the people of Jammu & Kashmir by paying them peanuts during land acquisition process, ” he said.
“Most of the affected district will be Budgam as around 4500 kanals of land will be acquired very soon. In Ganderbal 2341 Kanals of land will be acquired. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will be executing this project and the said authority 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). Before authorities take up this project the suggestions need to be taken into consideration by J&K Government and officials of NHAI,” he said.
Muzaffar said that the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) pays adequate compensation to the farmers / other persons whose land and property is acquired for construction of highways in other states of India. 4 times in rural areas, 2 times in urban areas, but not in J&K as Central Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act is not applicable in the State. “Our land is being forcibly occupied by NHAI from J&K Governmentt as NHAI is not ready for private negotiation which is a provision in J&K Land Acquisition Act,” he said.
He said as on date the compensation paid to apple, pear and plum orchardists is between Rs 15 to 16 per kg and this rate has been fixed way back in 1995 with 2 % increase after every 2 years. Right now even a B class apple per kg fetches Rs 50 to 60 per kg in market , but the farmers are paid mere Rs 16 which is complete injustice.
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