NHAI says ‘No to private negotiation’ for land acquisition for semi-ring road

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) which is acquiring around 6000 kanals of land through state government for construction of 62 km long alternate highway (semi ring road) connecting Pampore with Ganderbal via Budgam has told Deputy Commissioner Budgam in its official communication that NHAI is not ready for private negotiation with farmers and affected people, sources said.
Sources told Kashmir Post that Government is putting a pressure on farmers to give away their land on very low price. Given this, it is for the first time that the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir regions have got united under the banner ‘Ring / Semi Ring Road Land Owners Welfare Committee’.
The committee comprises affected farmers from Kathua, Samba , Jammu , Udhampur , Pulwama, Budgam , Srinagar , Baramulla , Bandipora and Ganderbal.
“Our delegation held meetings with Chief Minister, Deputy CM , Revenue Minister. We only got assurances. It seems Govt has plan to snatch our land. Not only for the land, the government is not paying fair compensation for the fruit bearing trees as well,” said G A Paul President of Semi Ring Road Land Owners Welfare Committee
“I don’t understand why NHAI is not ready for private negotiations which is a mandatory provision of J&K Land Acquisition Act? “ asked Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat Founder of RTI Movement.
He added, “NHAI by not agreeing for negotiations is violating the State Land Acquisition law. Private negotiations have been held in past during land acquisition for Railway project.
“Govt must build pressure on NHAI for private negotiations. The compensation paid in lieu of fruit bearing trees is 10 times lower as the rates have been fixed in 1995, which is completely injustice.”