Omar Abdullah Announces Rs 144 Crore Compensation for Border Fencing Affected Residents
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Synopsis
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced the disbursement of Rs 144 crore to residents affected by border fencing. He emphasized the challenges faced by border villagers and committed to addressing their concerns in an upcoming meeting with local MLAs.
Key Takeaways
- Rs 144 crore compensation announced for border villagers.
- Challenges faced by residents in border areas highlighted.
- Upcoming meeting with MLAs to address border-related issues.
- Disbursement process for compensation expedited.
- BSF has acquired 13,415 kannals of land for fencing.
Jammu, March 24 (NationPress) J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced on Monday that Rs 144 crore has been allocated to compensate villagers whose lands are impacted by the border fencing.
During a session in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister addressed supplementary questions, emphasizing the challenges faced by those in border villages. He confirmed that a meeting with MLAs from these regions will occur in April to discuss their concerns.
While responding to inquiries from various party members regarding border residents' issues, he stated, “This is a humanitarian issue. Residents in border areas are encountering numerous difficulties. After the Assembly session concludes, I will organize a meeting with all MLAs from border regions and relevant officials. The government is committed to taking necessary actions.”
Several members from the BJP, including Vijay Kumar, Surjit Singh Salathia, Devinder Kumar Manyal, and CPI M member M.Y. Tarigami, raised concerns about land compensation, agricultural activities before the fencing, and the deteriorating conditions of border hamlets.
A heated debate ensued between Tarigami and BJP MLA Balwant Manokita, with the latter questioning Tarigami's right to speak on border issues in Jammu.
In response, Tarigami asserted that he has the right to raise questions about any area, stating that Jammu does not belong solely to Manokita.
The Chief Minister revealed that Rs 155.08 crore has been earmarked for compensation, with Rs 144.12 crore already disbursed to landowners. The remaining funds are pending title verification.
“We are not withholding funds. Rs 11 crore is still available for disbursement. We will direct the department to accelerate the disbursement process. The border issue transcends individual MLAs’ concerns; it is a significant issue for all residents in border areas, whether in Jammu or the Kashmir Valley,” the Chief Minister stated.
Earlier, in response to a question from Hiranagar MLA Vijay Kumar, Minister for Revenue Sakina Itoo disclosed that the BSF has acquired 13,415 kannals of land across 113 villages in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts for border fencing along the Indo-Pak border.
She explained that the BSF has constructed fencing along a 135-foot-wide strip in these border districts.
The fencing is established along the international border and the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K to prevent terrorist infiltration.
Land adjacent to the border fencing has become uncultivable, and farmers are compensated with cash for these lands.
