Srinagar, July 23 (Newswire): Accusing divisional administration of failing to compensate them residents of Khanyar and its adjoining areas, whose properties were dismantled for the road widening projects from Dalgate to Zakura and for the beautification of Dastgeer Sahab (RA) shrine, staged protests here.
"We were betrayed by the administration, we were asked to demolish our properties and were told that our payments will be deposited in our bank accounts, but so far we haven't received a single penny," protesters said. "We were told by the officials that they will give us 25 per cent of total compensation as the first installment."
"I was asked by the administration to first demolish the rooftop of my house and after that they will release compensation. I followed their orders and removed the rooftop only to be left without the roof. Now I am staying under open sky with my family," said Aijaz Ahmad of Khanyar.
"It is height of injustice, people are asked to vacate their houses without thinking where will they go and what will happen to their families," he said, adding "We approached the local MLA Ali Muhammad Sagar and sought his intervention. Despite his directions nothing was done."
To mention, divisional administration has also earmarked some properties around the shrine of Dastigeer Sahab (RA) for the beautification of the shrine for that purpose demolition of properties had taken place.
Residents of Meerak Shah Road, Khayam and its adjoining areas also participated in the protest as their houses are a part of the road widening project which starts from Dalgate.
"For past one year we are living in constant fear as there is always a threat that authorities will come and demolish our properties. Last time when the demolition drive was scheduled to be take place, we held a protest and thwarted the move, then we were asked to negotiate. But when we approached the concerned officials, they seemed least bothered," said Muhammad Maqbool.
Inhabitants of Khayam alleged they are being paid less amount as compared to present market value for their rehabilitation. "It is total injustice that we are being deprived of our rights. If the authorities have to demolish our houses in return they have to give us compensation as per the market value," said locals. "If government cannot afford to pay us according to market price, then they have no right to take our property," residents said.
Same is the concern with the shopkeepers whose shops are coming under the road widening. They say the government was offering them Rs 10 lakh if the shop was owned by them or Rs 7.5 lakh if they happen to have hired it. "We are not being given compensation as per our demand," they said
To mention this 10.33 kilometer Dalgate-Zakura road widening project, which started in 2009 at an estimated cost of Rs 336.24 crores is going on at a very slow pace. "We are told we will be given a plot but administration changed its mind and informed us that we will be given Rs 10 lakh compensation but now they are giving us only Rs 5 lakh," they said adding
"Even administration is deducting tax from the compensations, which is very unfair. How can person construct or purchase a house when government is giving him hardly anything," they said.
Despite repeated attempts Deputy Commissioner Srinagar could not be contacted.
However, an official affiliated with this project told Greater Kashmir: "These people who are protesting have been given a chance to strike a deal with administration, but they were adamant with their own rates and hardly listened to us. Then their cases were shifted to compulsory, where they will be given compensation without any further negotiations."
"We were betrayed by the administration, we were asked to demolish our properties and were told that our payments will be deposited in our bank accounts, but so far we haven't received a single penny," protesters said. "We were told by the officials that they will give us 25 per cent of total compensation as the first installment."
"I was asked by the administration to first demolish the rooftop of my house and after that they will release compensation. I followed their orders and removed the rooftop only to be left without the roof. Now I am staying under open sky with my family," said Aijaz Ahmad of Khanyar.
"It is height of injustice, people are asked to vacate their houses without thinking where will they go and what will happen to their families," he said, adding "We approached the local MLA Ali Muhammad Sagar and sought his intervention. Despite his directions nothing was done."
To mention, divisional administration has also earmarked some properties around the shrine of Dastigeer Sahab (RA) for the beautification of the shrine for that purpose demolition of properties had taken place.
Residents of Meerak Shah Road, Khayam and its adjoining areas also participated in the protest as their houses are a part of the road widening project which starts from Dalgate.
"For past one year we are living in constant fear as there is always a threat that authorities will come and demolish our properties. Last time when the demolition drive was scheduled to be take place, we held a protest and thwarted the move, then we were asked to negotiate. But when we approached the concerned officials, they seemed least bothered," said Muhammad Maqbool.
Inhabitants of Khayam alleged they are being paid less amount as compared to present market value for their rehabilitation. "It is total injustice that we are being deprived of our rights. If the authorities have to demolish our houses in return they have to give us compensation as per the market value," said locals. "If government cannot afford to pay us according to market price, then they have no right to take our property," residents said.
Same is the concern with the shopkeepers whose shops are coming under the road widening. They say the government was offering them Rs 10 lakh if the shop was owned by them or Rs 7.5 lakh if they happen to have hired it. "We are not being given compensation as per our demand," they said
To mention this 10.33 kilometer Dalgate-Zakura road widening project, which started in 2009 at an estimated cost of Rs 336.24 crores is going on at a very slow pace. "We are told we will be given a plot but administration changed its mind and informed us that we will be given Rs 10 lakh compensation but now they are giving us only Rs 5 lakh," they said adding
"Even administration is deducting tax from the compensations, which is very unfair. How can person construct or purchase a house when government is giving him hardly anything," they said.
Despite repeated attempts Deputy Commissioner Srinagar could not be contacted.
However, an official affiliated with this project told Greater Kashmir: "These people who are protesting have been given a chance to strike a deal with administration, but they were adamant with their own rates and hardly listened to us. Then their cases were shifted to compulsory, where they will be given compensation without any further negotiations."
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