By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: For years the Dal dwellers are awaiting proper land allotment for rehabilitation but year on year, they face new hurdles. Four months after the new government took over, the Dal dwellers are still running from pillar to post to get their demands met.
One of the main demands include relocation from the already allotted land at Rakh-i-Arth to Chandipora Harwan.
On Saturday, Yasir Nazir, 22, an unemployed civil engineer, was curiously standing at the corner of his house, surrounded by water from all sides. Yasir is expecting Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh to make an announcement when he is to visit some Dal localities later in the evening.
Inside the Dal lake, there are around 10,000 families, some of whom sustain their lives by growing vegetables in the lake and some are shikara walas (boatmen) who ferry tourist for sight-seeing in the lake. The lake dwellers, being the part of lake-ecosystem, have consequently caused damaged to it. Their houses within the lake discharge uncontrolled and untreated liquid and solid waste into it leading to pollution and subsequent degradation. Over the decades, the floating gardens of the lake have increased in size followed by dumping mud and weed to turn it into solid mass further resulting in shrinkage of the water ways. The lake, which was about 25 sq kms in 1980s, has been reduced to over barely 12 sq kms as on date. Following a number of PILs/cases and intervention petition, the High Court directed the government in 2005 to vacate the lake dwellers and offer them rehabilitation.
“We were firstly allotted land in Chandipora Harwan, which was later withdrawn due to some political reasons. Then we were allotted land in Rakh-i-Arth colony in Bemina in district Budgam. We budged down to their pressure and started constructing houses. But to our utter dismay, the houses started to develop cracks within some months of construction,” says Yasir.
Rakh-i-Arth is actually a wetland on which land filling was done so as to construct a residential colony on it. Following the High Court directives, the government had transferred 7,526 kanals of Rakh-i-Arth near Bemina flood channel, to the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) for rehabilitation and resettlement of the lake dwellers by April 2006. But the LAWDA could not undertake filling of the land due to protests by some farmers with the plea that the compensation for the land was low as compared to the market rates.
Nisar Ahmad, 38, once lived in the Dal interiors but was shifted to an adjoining area in Badamwari, Hawal as part of the relocation plan. But his other relatives were not fortunate enough to get a plot in Badamwari but they were allotted plots in Rakh-i-Arth.
“Rakh-i-arth being a wet land, requires land filling, despite filling the land in proportions as mentioned by engineers, the houses which were constructed there have started developing cracks. This is happening because the plinth couldn’t bear the weight of the house as the land beneath the house is wet and sinking and cracks are bound to follow,” says Nisar.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh arrived and interacted with people to know their grievances. Most of the residents, in unified voice, demanded land allotment from Rakh-i-Arth to Chandipora Harwan. Singh assured Dal dwellers of proper rehabilitation during the PDP-BJP government.
“Our government believes in action and we don’t rely on preaching. We will address all your problems. Ever since the government took over, it has been our endeavor to accelerate the pace of development of all the regions of the state and in this regard several programmes have been initiated,” Singh told the Dal dwellers during his speech at Moti- Mohalla.
While speaking on the relocation of Dal dwellers, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “There are some High Court directives related to Dal dwellers rehabilitation. Let me take everything in confidence and talk to the government on this issue. We will go through the papers again and will chalk out some strategy.”
(All Photos by Raqib Hameed Naik)