LAHORE: A majority of the affected people are still unsatisfied with the compensation being paid by the government in return for surrendering their property/land, partially or completely, along the 27.1km long route of the Orange Line Metro Train project.

DCO retired Captain Muhammad Usman rejected the stance of the affected people, claiming that the compensation rates were more than the market value that were evaluated by the district price assessment committee in the light of State Bank’s evaluators.

“We are not satisfied with the compensation rates. The government is paying Rs1 million per room to residents of the Maharaja building despite having ownership rights and documentary evidence. And the similar compensation (Rs1m per room) is also being paid to Bangali Mohallah/building residents who have no ownership documents,” complained Sheikh Aftab, a resident of the Maharaja building present at the university ground’s camp near Old Anarkali.

In certain cases, the government was paying Rs1 million in total to those having two rooms, he added.

While quoting MPA Majid Zahoor as pledging to award reasonable compensation to victims, Mr Aftab said the government should owner the commitment made by its own MPA.

Muhammad Raees of Parachute Colony said since he and other residents had already challenged the land acquisition in the LHC through PTI leader Aleem Khan, they would decide to visit the compensation camp offices after the verdict.

“No government official has so far approached us to let us know about the cost of our houses, households, etc,” he added.

Advocate Umar Saeed and Ali Sher said that their property/shops were located nearby a soft drink factory on Multan Road.

“The government is acquiring around 10 marla of our commercial land and is offering only Rs2.3m per marla whereas the actual rates of the commercial property at this location is over Rs3.5m per marla. There is no truth in government’s tall claims that it is giving compensation to displaced persons more than the market rate,” deplored Umar Saeed, who was present at the one-window/camp in Thokar Niaz Baig.

Muhammad Yaseen said around 1.5 marla of his shop had been demarcated to be acquired. “The government is offering only Rs2m per marla as against the market rate of around Rs4m,” he said.

When asked why he visited the camp for receiving compensation since he was not satisfied, Yaseen questioned: “What will happen if I miss the chance to get something. If I don’t come here, will the government stop acquiring my land or increase the compensation amount.”

Chaudhry Muhammad Sharif and Athar Khan, the owners of property Nos 113 and 168 (Multan Road, near Yatim Khana), respectively, were also among those annoyed with the compensation rates.

“They are paying Rs2.3m per marla whereas the market rate is Rs5 to 6m. We can never be able to buy the same pieces of land with money the government is offering us,” Athar Khan said.

He demanded of the government to review the price assessment of the private property being acquired for the project.

LDA Director Nauman Ahmad claimed that the compensation being paid to the affected people was the best ever to be offered.

“The chief minister has even taken care of the residents of Bangali Mohallah/building despite the fact they all are encroachers. As per the government announcement, we are paying them Rs1m per room,” he said.

He said similarly the residents of Maharaja Building, Kapoorthala, Katcha Lake Road, Jain Mandir, Edward Road, etc -- the areas falling within the revenue jurisdiction of Mauza Lahore Khaas – were being paid Rs1m (per room), Rs2.5m per marla (residential) and Rs3.5m per marla (commercial).

He said the compensation rates for properties of the ETPB building and Qazalbash Trust were yet to be settled due to some legal issues.

DCO Usman said if someone claimed that the government was giving less compensation, he/she should produce evidence in this regard.

Apart from the per marla cost, he said, the government was also paying the cost of structure, business disturbance, etc to the affected people.

And if all costs were multiplied, the compensation would become very high, he added.

He claimed that since a majority of affected people were happy, those criticising the compensation rates, etc could never be made happy.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2016