J&K farmers up in arms over land acquired by govt for semi-ring road

farmers and villagers whose land has been acquired by the Jammu and Kashmir government for the 42-kilometre Srinagar semi-ring road project are protesting against the government, stating that their primary agricultural land has been taken away without due compensation.

“For us, this project will bring loss. We will lose our orchards of apple, apricot, plum and paddy fields. We don’t want development at the cost of our land,’’ Ali Mohammad Wani, a land owner from Wadwan Budgam, said. “Our land is being taken forcibly. Government is playing with the future of our children. At least, government should compensate the farmers properly,’’ he added.

The landowners have threatened to launch an agitation once the work starts and are demanding revocation of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Acquisition Act passed in 1934.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the semi-ring road during a function at Sher-i- Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on Saturday.

The road, funded by Centre and to be constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), will ease traffic congestion in the city. The first phase of the road will be constructed at ₹939.41 crore and will be completed in three years. This new road will traverse 52 villages and six districts including Pulwama, Budgam, Baramulla, Srinagar, Ganderbal and Bandipora

The government needs to acquire more than 10,000 kanals for this road project. Farmers are alleging that almost all the land which is being acquired is agriculture and horticulture land. “Our demand is simple, first don’t take our land or (and if you have to) revise the compensation,’’ said Raja Muzuffar Bhat, whose 13 kanals of land has been acquired by the government. Bhat alleged that land is being taken away ‘forcibly’. “We have already moved the court to seek justice,’’ he said.

Bhat who is also the convener of the Semi Ring Road Land Owners Welfare Association said they want revocation of existing Jammu and Kashmir Land Acquisition Act. “The Act was introduced over eight decades ago and has never been revised,’’ he said, adding, farmers should be provided same compensation that NHAI gives to farmers in other states. “The NHAI gives four times more compensation to farmers, people whose land or structures are affected in other parts of the country. In Jammu and Kashmir, they give us peanuts because of the land acquisition act,” he said.

Ahead of PM Modi’s visit to the state, the protesting farmers also sat on a dharna in the city on Friday and warned of serious consequences if compensation rates are not revised. The farmers also met J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti during a meeting and sought her intervention.

SRINAGAR:The