PDP asks Arun Jaitley to speed up payment of land compensation

Opposition Peoples Democratic  Party (PDP) today asked Defence Minister Arun Jaitley to ensure speedy payment of compensation or rent of lands under use by the Army in Jammu and Kashmir. "There are hundreds of cases where the compensation or  rentals for the land under Army use have been settled, but the money is not being disbursed among the people due to  procedural delays," PDP leader and MP Tariq Hameed Karra said.

He was addressing a public gathering in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district. "The Defence Minister should take a call on the matter and order speedy disbursement of the land compensation or rent as for most of the people, this is the only source of income," he said.

The PDP leader expressed dismay over reports about   curtailment in flight timing at the Srinagar International  Airport and called upon Jaitley, who is on a visit to the state, to intervene in the matter so that the tourist season does not get affected. "Given the fact that June, July and August is the peak  tourist season in Kashmir, the Indian Air Force decision to begin runway renovation at this time seems to be an unwise move as it will jeopardize tourist arrivals to Kashmir which is already facing a brunt due to excessive air travel charges," he said.