Dal dwellers allege housing scam, demand probe into rehabilitation at Rakh-e-Arth Colony

Srinagar: Several families relocated from Dal Lake and its peripheral areas to the Rakh-e-Arth Colony in Bemina have alleged irregularities in the rehabilitation process, accusing National Conference legislator Shameema Firdous and Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO) founder Manzoor Wangnoo of depriving genuine beneficiaries of their rightful housing and land.

The protesting families claimed that despite living separately in their respective houses along Dal Lake before relocation, they were allotted a single housing unit to be shared by two different families at Rakh-e-Arth Colony.

The aggrieved families alleged that land and housing earmarked for Dal dwellers had been grabbed, leaving several beneficiaries without proper rehabilitation despite the government’s commitment to provide them with independent accommodation.

One of the protesters, Mubarak Ahmad Rath, a resident of Ghat No. 1, Foreshore Road, alleged that the rehabilitation exercise had been manipulated at the expense of poor families.

“We were living separately at Dal Lake, but after shifting us to Rakh-e-Arth, two different families were forced to share a single house. We want to know where the houses and land meant for us have gone,” he said.

Rath demanded a high-level and impartial investigation into the entire rehabilitation process, alleging that poor Dal dwellers had been cheated.

“This is a scam and it must be investigated. The land meant for Dal dwellers has been grabbed, while genuine beneficiaries have been left in the lurch,” he alleged.

The protesters urged the Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau to constitute an independent inquiry to examine the allotment process, identify alleged irregularities and ensure justice for affected families. [KNT]