Won’t give land for Ring Roads, say affected farmers; demand fair compensation

By
Daily Excelsior
-

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 14: The affected farmers of Ring Road project Srinagar and Jammu today said that they won’t allow construction of Ring Road unless the demands for fair compensation were not accepted by the Government.
Addressing a joint press conference here today, G A Paul, president, Ring Road Land Owners’ Welfare Committee, Kashmir province, said, “The State continues to follow J&K Land Acquisition Act 1934 which is a 85 year old law promulgated by Maharaja Hari Singh. The UPA Government in the year 2013 enacted more progressive and democratic law called Right to Fair Compensation & Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (RFCTLARR Act 2013) but it was not ratified by J&K Government.
“Both NC-Congress Government and PDP-BJP Government in the State failed to enact new Land Acquisition Law. Even the Governor administration that enacted several laws through ordinance from last 6 months failed to repeal 85 year old State Land Acquisition Act,” said Paul.
The farmers’ leader said, “Right to Fair Compensation & Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (RFCTLARR Act 2013) focuses on providing not only compensation but rehabilitation and resettlement as well. In rural areas compensation paid to affected people is 4 times more the market value of land and property and in urban areas this compensation is double”.
“Instead of paying J&K affected farmers 5 to 7 times more compensation than market value of land, our land is being snatched and we are paid 10 to 50 times less than the market value as stamp duty rate in J&K, especially in Jammu and Budgam district is very less, “said O P Khajuria, senior leader of Ring Road Kissan Sangharsh Samiti Jammu.
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, convener of Ring Road Land Owners’ Welfare Committee, said NHAI is not ready to pay the affected people/farmers compensation what they pay in other states of India but they will fight this tooth and nail and will not give their land to NHAI.

WhatsApp Icon Follow our WhatsApp channel