Budgam, Dec 01: Prominent Politician Zaffer Mir (Lasjan) on Thursday expressed strong discontentment over the immense negligence by the government with regards to commitments made with the local families of Suthur-Kuther Bagh in Chadoora constituency whose land had been acquired by the Railways Department years back.
In his statement to the media, Zaffer Mir said the Railways had assured to provide jobs and adequate compensation to all the families whose land would be utilised in Railways Development Project but only the residents of Kenihama, Rakhshalina and Nowgam were given the agreed-upon benefits while keeping the families from SK Bagh under persisting deprivation.
“The disparity met by Suthur-Kuther Bagh families is totally unjustified and equally regrettable under a welfare government. They have given major portions of their ancestral land for the railways development project but not a single member from their families have been engaged in the Railways Department as promised earlier. Around 600 Kanals of land acquired by the railways falls in SK Bagh alone and yet their pleas are being met with a step-motherly attitude for unknown reasons,” he said.
He asserted that Railways had also assured to let out the shops at Nowgam station to the locals whose land was acquired by the Department. However, the Railways retrieved back the possession of the allotted shops from its rightful owners.
“I have met with the local Panchayat Halqa delegation who apprised about this visible discrimination. The response of concerned authorities remains in sheer violation to the Railways guidelines according to which the private land owners should be given first preference over the rest for their contribution. Unfortunately, SK Bagh residents were left to suffer for years altogether as the authorities in-charge were not willing to resolve their pressing issues,” he remarked.
He said this matter was also raised with the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P. K Pole last year for an immediate redressal but still nothing concrete has been done so far. “I would request the LG of Jammu and Kashmir Shri Manoj Sinha ji to intervene and ensure that rightful owners get the same benefits as has been guaranteed by the law and also enjoyed by the fellow citizens of adjacent areas,” he added.
Zaffer Mir emphasised that if prompt measures are not taken to resolve this important matter, a legal action will be taken by these families for which a committee of six constituents of the affected families has already been formed. “I shall firmly stand with my people as there is no greater service but to offer sincere help to them in resolving their genuine problems,” he concluded.
