Chikkadapally traders protest

THE HINDU, HYDERABAD, December 29, 2011

Chikkadpally traders down shutters in protest

The busy commercial hub of Chikkadpally wore a deserted look on Wednesday as the traders downed their shutters supporting the one-day ‘dharna' and ‘vanta vaarpu' programme organised by the BJP and Chikkadpally Federation of Commerce (CFC) at Chikkadpally. The traders were demanding better compensation package for the loss of their land in the Metro Rail project.

While government maintains that there are only about 100 shops that would be affected by the Metro Rail II phase project at Chikkadpally, the BJP National secretary K. Laxman says that about 387 shops would be affected during the construction. “Though the Metro Rail will reduce the traffic congestion and provide efficient public transport system, the traders should not be victimised in the process,” he said.

Outlining their demands, CFC president C. Nand Kumar said that the compensation for the land should be given at prevailing market rates. Their demands also include providing compensation to all the affected traders without discrimination, and providing alternate accommodation to the traders and tenants who are set to lose more than 80 per cent of their property because of the project.

“The proposed compensation of Rs. 45,000 per sq yard is far below the actual market prices,” Mr. Kumar said. “Besides, the officials claim that about 70 establishments are located on government lands and are offering a very low compensation package to them,” he said adding that these shops have been functioning for more than seven decades and have proper registration papers.

“How can the officials claim these properties as government land while they were collecting taxes all the while?” Mr. Kumar questioned.

For more go to: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article2755476.ece