Srinagar, Feb 19 (KNO): The Government on Thursday informed the House that the road widening project from Jehangir Chowk to Neelam Cinema via Shaheed Gunj was taken up earlier and 42 affected structures were identified and notified in 1997.
Replying to starred AQ No. 221 raised by MLA Sheikh Ahsan Ahmad, the Minister Incharge of Public Works (R&B) Department, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that seven structures have been settled by the High-Level Committee (HLC) in meetings held from time to time, including HLC Nos. 80, 107, 220 and 221.
The reply further stated that an amount of Rs 1.81 crore was released to the Collector, Land Acquisition, PWD Srinagar vide letter dated December 24, 2018, for payment of compensation to the settled cases. However, the beneficiaries have not reported to the Collector for receiving their payments and the amount is lying pending.
“At present, 35 structures remain unsettled. These cases were also placed before different HLCs, but the settlement could not be finalized due to non-attendance of some owners in HLC meetings and non-acceptance of the rehabilitation/compensation package by certain rightful owners,” the reply said.
The government added that the matter is under consideration and necessary steps are being taken to resolve the pending claims in accordance with rules to facilitate completion of the project in larger public interest—(KNO)