Naveed Ul Haq
Budgam, Jul 27: Residents of Ganjibagh Chadoora whose land would be acquired for the Srinagar semi ring road project, staged a protest against NHAI and demanded the rest of 20 percent compensation which is yet to be given to them.
The 62-kilometre road project would connect Pulwama and Ganderbal districts via Budgam.
The road length in the Phase-I will be 34.72 kilometers and in the Phase-II 27.2 kilometers. There will be a toll plaza at Narbal junction. In the proposed four-lane road project from Galander to Narbal, there will be 155 culverts, two road-over bridges, two flyovers, five major junctions, 17 minor junctions and one toll plaza.
The two-lane road from Narbal to Ganderbal will have 135 culverts, five major junctions and nine minor junctions.
As per data, Kashmir will lose 4730 kanals of agricultural land to the project. Semi ring road will take away highest land of 3661 kanals of agriculture land in Budgam, 379 kanals in Pulwama, 202 kanals in Srinagar, 150 kanals in Baramulla, 160 kanals in Bandipora and 176 kanals in Ganderbal.
Residents who protested on Tuesday told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they were fighting for the compensation from last one year for their land which will come under the project.
Residents said that authorities have paid Rs 30 lakh per kanal to the adjacent villagers for their land, however they were treated unfairly, by getting only 80 percent of Rs 23 lakh per kanal.
Residents further alleged that the government is not ready to pay for the houses through whose courtyard this road passes.
“What is the use of this house of ours when the cars go by near our windows and the road will pass through our courtyard. We want them to take away our homes too but give us the money we have spent on making it,” said a protesting lady.
The protesters appealed to the higher authorities to take the matter seriously and release the pending 20 percent of payment and pay for the houses nearby to the road.
