Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 19: The farmers of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district chose a unique and creative method of protest to demand adequate compensation for their land that is going to be acquired for Srinagar semi-ring road project.
The farmers showed up in Press Enclave here and performed skits and sung songs as a mark of protest against inadequate compensation for their land taken for the construction of the semi-ring road project.
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Threatre artists Rayeez Wathoori and Tanveer Bhat presented a very emotional skit during the protest depicting pathetic condition of Kashmiri farmers due to very meager land holding and subsequent land acquisition by Government.
Under the banner of Semi-Ring Road Land Owners Welfare Committee the angry protestors raised anti-Government slogans.
Raja Muzaffar Bhat, an RTI activist and the convener of the committee, said the farmers were getting inadequate compensation because of an archaic State law. “The Jammu and Kashmir Land Acquisition Act is 80 years old and has weak provisions. While as Central land acquisition and rehabilitation which ensures a fair compensation is not applicable to the State. It is because of the State law adequate compensation is not being paid,” he said.
He, however, asked: “What is the fault of the farmers if the Government has a week law. The average land holding of farmers here is less than the rest of the country and by that logic, the farmers should get more compensation.”
He said the Governor administration should at any cost issue an ordinance for a new version of Land Acquisition Act in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the protestors demanded an increase in the compensation to the apple growers. “The rates have been fixed way back in 1995 with 2% increase after every year. Right now even B class apple per kilogram fetches Rs 50 to Rs 60 in the market but the farmers are paid mere Rs 16 which is a complete injustice,” a protester said.
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