After a gap of around 10 years, the 600-plus aggrieved families in Budgam district are supposed to get compensation for their 4000 Kanals of land which was acquired by the Defence Estates Department at Srinagar Old Airfield area ( Estate Karewa Damodar) in 2013.
The aggrieved land owners and farmers have been waiting for the payment since then. Part of the payment Rs 4.80 lakhs per kanal was already paid to each family but the rates were enhanced to Rs 18 to 20 lakhs per kanal and said payment was not disbursed to the families.
A delegation of aggrieved landowners of estate Karewa Damodar (Old Airfield) Srinagar led by social activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat had a detailed meeting with senior officers in DG Defence Estates Office in New Delhi on Monday.
In a statement the Zamidaran Committee Karewa Damodar said that meeting was a great as the senior officers of DG Defence Estates Office in New Delhi said that payment to the tune of more than 600 Crore had been sanctioned by Govt of India and would be disbursed to the land owners through Defence Estates Officer Srinagar and Deputy Commissioner Budgam.
Pertinently the land owners of Karewa Damodar (Old Airport) along with some prominent social activists had met with GOC 15 Corps Lt Gen ADC Aujla in Srinagar last year and apprised him about the problems faced by affected families whose land has been acquired by Defence Estates Department at old airfield but payment wasn’t being released.
“The previous GOC 15 Corps Lt Gen ADS Aujla had taken our issue seriously and since then he had been making communication with the Defence Estates Department. Even after this transfer from Srinagar he facilitated the meeting with the top officers in DG Defence Estates Department and we are fully hopeful that payment would be made to the aggrieved land owners. I am personally thankful to Lt Gen Aujla and DG Defence Estates G S Rajeshwaran for their support. I request now DC Budgam and Defence Estates Officer Srinagar to expedite our case ” said Dr Raja Muzaffar
Pertinently land measuring around 3879 kanals of land located around which belongs to around 600 plus families of Wathoora , Kralpora , Buchroo , Rangreth and many other adjoining areas of Budgam district.
The affected families have been waiting for compensation for the last 10 years as their land was acquired by the Defence Estates Department in 2012. Prior to 2013 the land owners were paid annual rent by the Army through the Defense Estates Department from 1957. In 2012 Govt decided to acquire the said land which is already in possession of the Army.