Srinagar, December 17 (KAT): Construction work on the proposed new bypass road near Tantrey Pora area of Palhallan was halted on Tuesday after local residents and farmers staged a protest against alleged irregularities in the land acquisition process.
The protesters told Kashmir Abb Tak that the land required for the project has not yet been notified under the National Highways Authority Act.
The concerned authorities took possession of the land without any legal authority and started construction work without issuing the mandatory notifications and declarations as required by law. The farmers alleged that the legal procedure was violated and the rights of landowners were completely ignored. A large number of affected farmers expressed strong resentment and demanded that construction work should remain suspended until the land acquisition process is completed in accordance with the law and full compensation is paid to landowners at the prescribed rates.
The land owners also claimed that not only has compensation not been paid, but in some cases their land was damaged by heavy machinery without even taking the owners into confidence.
The protesters appealed to the district administration and higher authorities to intervene immediately, warning that if their genuine demands are not met, they will be forced to intensify their agitation, for which the concerned departments will be slowly response.(KAT)
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