BATTAGRAM: The locals on Wednesday warned that if the government did not pay them market value of their lands and houses being consumed by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project by Oct 10 they would launch a protest drive and forcibly stop construction works.

Addressing a press conference here, they said the district administration had issued notices to landowners to vacate their houses without any prior notice. They said lands between Kas Pul and Chanjal areas along the Karakoram Highway were treated as commercial thus, the government should pay them the market value of land and houses.

They said CPEC-related works in Battagram district had damaged water supply schemes and water channels as the government had no policy to protect the environment.

The press conference was attended by members of CPEC action committee, including former DIG Riaz Khan, Maulana Atta Mohammad Deshani, Anwar Baig, Mohammad Rafique and Mohammad Khan along with CPEC-affected people.

Riaz Khan rejected the survey carried out to assess the damage and demanded a fresh survey so that the affected people could be properly compensated.

Anwar Baig said owners of the houses to be demolished should be provided alternative shelter where they could live with dignity.

He added that their lands and houses along the Karakoram Highway had commercial value, but the government was not giving them the market rates.

Maulana Deshani said Battagram district had a very little plain area and the people, particularly farmers, would suffer huge losses due to execution of the CPEC-related projects.

Mohammad Rafique criticised the government for not giving people due rights.

The locals said that if the government did not meet their demands by Oct 10, then they would take to the streets.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2017