Srinagar, Apr 24:  The ongoing road widening project from Dalgate to Zakura met a roadblock Tuesday as protests broke out in Khanyar area during a demolition bid on Syed Meerak Shah Road in Shaher-e-Khaas.
 The protesters alleged that they have not been paid any compensation adding that the officials were using brute force to “illegally demolish their dwellings.”
 “It is total injustice that suddenly a bulldozer comes and dismantles our houses. They (government) don’t think where we’ll go? What will happen to our families?” the protesters asked.
 They said that “we are ready to vacate our properties provided government gives them compensation.”
  “Even though we’re asked to attend High level  Committee (HLC) meetings , we’re never allowed to utter a word there as if we are the subjects of centuries old Afghan regime,” the protesters alleged.
 Bashir Ahmad Bhat whose wall was demolished today said: “We have not received any compensation from administration till now.”
 Meanwhile, Khayam residents also alleged that administration was dilly-dallying the compensation process.
 When contacted Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Muhammad Aslam Qadiri told Greater Kashmir: “There is no question of denying compensation to any of the victims. We first estimate value of one kanal of land then we call the person whose property is to be taken.
 “We offer packages and if they agree we provide them twenty percent compensation on signing the agreement, rest twenty to thirty percent is given when they undertake demolition themselves. Remaining portion is given when our engineers visit the site and they certify that the construction has been dismantled,” he explained. 
 Qadri however said there are “some people who don’t agree to our packages.”
 “If they don’t agree, then there cases are called compulsory category and under this category the victims won’t receive any compensation when the demolition takes place as they have not agreed to our packages,” said Qadri, who is also the collector for this project.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST