Kashmir News Bureau Desk
Srinagar 23 December (KNB): Authorities are looking into the land grabbing allegations by farmers in B K Pora area of Srinagar outskirts.
The paddy fields owners are crying for help as the land grabbers have damaged the fields by illegal filling. They alleges that water channels have been blocked and land filling has led to water logging making fields un cultivable.
Deputy Commissioner Budgam Syed Fakhrudin Hamid (IAS) told KNB that there is a blanket ban on construction on cultivation land and conversion of it.
“Strict action will be taken against anyone involved in it,” he told KNB while assuring prompt and result oriented action.
While talking to Kashmir News Bureau, Tehsildar BK Pora told that they have been ordered by DC administration to look into the matter.
“We are looking into the issue at our level and we have received orders from DC office as well. Since you have already talked to DC he will furnish you further details,” she told KNB.
Farmers of the area had alleged that land grabbers have been land filling the paddy fields and depite hue and cry they are not stopping.
Rather Abdul Salam a farmer told KNB that he has twenty Kanals of paddy land but he couldn’t grow paddy for two years now.
“First they blocked the water channels and fields were left without water supply, we approached authorities and after a brief action, land grabbing began again,” he confided.
Not only are the farmers irked by land grabbing but also as the land has been sold and construction in the area is also going on.
Another farmer Amir Bashir said that the water channels with a width of 13 feet now remain a 2 feet only. That too blocked at the entry and after few metres it vanishes.
“Paddy fields are filled with water and we have no way to work in fields,” he told KNB.
According to farmers land brokers are using money keep mouths shut thus no voice is raised.
“Some of the land brokers like Bilal sheikh and others are doing it sometimes during day and at times during night,” Abdul Khaliq said.
Farmers are asking government to intervene before hundreds of kanals of paddy fields are gone and a concrete colony is erected over it.
While government has banned construction over cultivation land the area is witnessing huge constructions.(KNB)
“We have lived by these fields and our new generations are being forced to let go these lands due to day light loot and money hungry few,” a farmer told KNB, adding that we urge LG Manoj Sinha and district administration to come to our rescue.