Ousted for rail line, DM assures them of justice

Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, June 24

Champawat District Magistrate (DM) Iqbal Ahmed has assured of justice to people who are being ousted from their houses by the Railways. These people are settled along the railway line from Tanakpur to Banbasa and are being ousted as a broad gauge line is to be laid between Tanakpur and Pilibhit this month.

The residents of Ward No. 3 and 4 of Nagar Palika Parishad, Tanakpur, situated near the railway line, met Ahmed today and submitted a memorandum demanding alternate residence.

“The Railway Department has issued notices asking residents to vacate their houses till July 12. The residents are in panic,” said Yaqub Ansari, a resident of Ward No 4.

Residents said they had been paying taxes to the local urban body and living there with its permission but now they were being uprooted.

“We want a joint survey by the Nagar Palika Parishad and the revenue team before we are ousted,” said Kalim Ansari, another resident of Ward No 4.

Ahmed said the plea of the ousted residents would be discussed with officers of the Railway and Revenue Departments and the local urban body.

“If it is essential to oust these residents to make way for the railway line and complete this significant project in time, the district administration will give viable residential facility to the ousted people,” the DM added.