Ring road project: JDA allottees get a raw deal

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 23

The state Revenue Department has been paying a compensation of Rs 8,500 per marla to the allottees of residential plots at the upcoming Jammu Development Authority’s (JDA) colony in the Kot Bhalwal area, for which the latter had paid Rs 1.32 lakh per marla four years ago.

Around 100 persons who were allotted plots in the Kot Bhalwal residential colony are being compensated for the land to be acquired for the ambitious Rs 2,000-crore ring road project, which is passing through the area.

“We are being cheated by the JDA, as the land that we purchased from the authority for Rs 1.32 lakh per marla is being compensated at the rate of Rs 1.7 lakh per kanal. It turns out to be just Rs 8,500 per marla,” said an allottee.

The JDA had proposed to develop a housing colony of 402 plots at Kot Bhalwal in 2014, of which about 100 plots came under the ring road project.

Sources in the Revenue Department said the actual value of the land in the same area was not more that 1.5 lakh per kanal in 2014. Even after four years, the government has evaluated the price of the land at the rate of Rs 1.7 lakh per kanal and has paid Rs 1.4 crore to the JDA for 79 kanals acquired for the ring road project.

The sources informed The Tribune that in the Kot Bhalwal area, all land owners had been compensated with Rs 1.7 lakh per kanal in addition to 15 per cent ‘jabarana’ (a part of amount to be paid for acquiring the land). The JDA has also been compensated for 79 kanals with Rs 1.4 crore.

“The SDM has transferred the amount to our account as compensation, but it is not our prerogative to procure the land which has already been allotted to public. We will transfer back the money to the SDM for disbursement,” said Rajesh Shavan, vice-chairman, JDA.