SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), an umbrella of traders bodies in the Valley, has demanded reevaluation for the compensation to be provided to the Flyover affected shopkeepers on Jehanghir Chowk- Rambagh Road.
Chairman, KEA, Mohammad Yasin Khan, in a statement, said it is unfortunate that the authorities insist on paying the same compensation decided some 15 years back for acquiring of the shops, which makes absolutely no economic sense. He said the KEA out rightly rejects such recommendation from the committee and demand revision of compensation as per the present market rates.
“It only shows how cruel authorities are towards the people of the Valley. It is more than a decade back that the high level committee had decided to pay a uniform compensation for the demolition of shops, irrespective of their size, location and the nature of business they used to operate. We believe that this made no economic sense to pay just compensation that too on unjust basis, ignoring their rehabilitation part, yet the plan was put in force,” Khan said.
“The politicians especially the legislatures all get together and seek hikes in pay and other goodies they receive for doing nothing but subscribing openly to the sufferings of people. Likewise the Babus especially the ones with three letter indicators regularly get pay and allowance hikes,” Khan said, adding, “But the same administrators justify payment of compensation to the displaced shopkeepers at the same rate as decided 15 years back. Does that make any sense or justification?”
KEA expresses its deep concern about this callous attitude of the government and urges it to pay compensation as per the prevailing market rates and rehabilitation requirements and costs to meet the just demand of the displaced shopkeepers/owners, which may bring some sigh of relief to them, chief spokesperson KEA, Siraj Ahmad said.
The KEA understands well that the road widening and consequent demolitions of the shops to achieve the expansion plan has been a necessity, but that cannot be done by “snatching” people’s livelihood, he said.

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