Land owners in Budgam demand fair compensation
Budgam, Nov 19: The area outside Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office Budgam reverberated with anti-admin slogans as the farmers whose land has been acquired for laying of Pampore-Ganderbal semi-ring road protested for pressing their demands on Monday.
Assembling under the banner of J&K Ring Road Land Owners Welfare Committee, a large number of farmers from several areas of Budgam district said that they are not being given adequate compensation to their land and blamed DC Budgam, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar for becoming a hurdle in their way.
It is pertinent to mention that Budgam farmers had protested and handed over memorandum to Dr Sehrish in July this year. She had assured them that their demands would be forwarded to higher authorities; however, farmers said that no process was initiated by DC.
Speaking to Kashmir Images, president Ring Road Owners Welfare Committee Ghulam Ahmad Paul said, “DC Budgam is not taking interest in fulfilling our demands. We have surrendered our land in 2016 but till date we are waiting for adequate compensation.”
While demanding fair compensation at par with other states, Paul said, “Farmers should be given compensation for their land and properties falling under proposed semi-ring road as per Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.”
He said that a total of 4700 kanals of land is being acquired in Budgam district only for the construction of semi-ring road.
Paul exclaimed that despite of giving thousands of kanals of land, they are being given only double of stamp duty rates which is unacceptable to farmers.
“Government is giving us compensation double to stamp value, while as market rate of the land is much higher.”
For instance, Paul said that in Budgam town, the market land value is more than 60 lakh but they only get 33 lakh from government.
Protesting farmers also chanted slogans against Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmed Khan.
Meanwhile, DC Budgam Dr Sehrish could not be contacted for comments.
