The displaced residents whose residential houses were demolished by the authorities on the banks of Jehlum in Srinagar have alleged that government is delaying their rehabilitation programme. The residents alleged that they are not being provided the land promised to them in Rakhe-Arath on the outskirts of Srinagar City.

“We are about 115 homes from Dubji Ghat to Cement Bridge on the banks of Jhelum. Our verification was done in 2008, and our houses were demolished in 2012 on the promise from the authorities that we will be provided with the land in Rakh-e-Arath for building our homes there,” Bilal Ahmad Rah, a resident of the Dubji Ghat said.

He said that the authorities from Divisional Commissioner’s office gave them demolition certificates as a proof that they were residents of the said place.

“We suffer on the daily basis because we don’t have a permanent residential place. All the formalities and papers are complete but still they don’t tell us why there is the delay in the allotment of the land,” he added.

He said that they went to the divisional commissioner’s office many times but could not get any concrete answer from them.

The authorities, however, have completed all the formalities regarding the transfer of land in Rakh-e-Arath.

Pertinently, in July this year, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir held a meeting regarding the rehabilitation of the families and asked the concerned authorities to submit the verification report. It had also asked the Chief Engineer irrigation and flood control to prepare a detailed rehabilitation plan for the residents.

Meanwhile, the residents have threatened to come out on streets and hold a protest if their demands are not met before the onset of winter.

“We appeal all the concerned officials to have mercy on us. If they fail to do so, we will be forced to take to the streets and immolate ourselves and our families,” Rah said.

Guest