Karakoram Highway. PHOTO: FILE
“This is sheer injustice on part of the government,” Muhammad Kamran, a resident, told The Express Tribune on Wednesday. “The authorities must realise our hardships as we lost our property so long ago.”
The realignment and revamp of KKH started from Gojal in 2007 and was completed till Raikot Bridge in Diamer district over the next few years. The people who lost their lands in Gojal have not been compensated and do not think they will be paid in the near future.
Displacement for urbanisation
According to Kamran, the government committed injustices against locals’ right from start of the KKH project.
“There is a formality which calls for the affected people to be consulted before the land is acquired, but the government did nothing in this case.”
He said in addition to the realignment, the government also owes locals compensation for land acquired before the Attabad landslide. Kamran said the issue of land used by G-B Chamber of Commerce for the transportation of goods was yet to be sorted out.
A lambardar (community elder), Sultan Ayub, told The Express Tribune, he was part of the initial land surveys conducted by the government, adding the delay caused unrest among residents. Ayub said the number of families affected by the KKH project cross 150 and demanded immediate payment.
Gojal Assistant Commissioner Mir Alam said work was in progress and compensation would be released after the completion of the project. “It has been sped up and hopefully communities will get their rights soon,” Alam told The Express Tribune.
He said teams from government departments measured the land and affected families would be compensated as per government laws after finalisation of the process.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2016.
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