Win some, lose some
Shariq Majeed

Mass migrations due to militancy cause land prices to jump seven times in 15 years in Rajouri

The story so far… BELA Colony came up in the heart of this border township because of mass migration from semi-urban areas on the outskirts of Rajouri after militancy erupted in the 1990s. Migrants from semi-urban areas, including Thanamandi, Darhal, Chandi-marh and Bufliaz, built houses in the riverbed, later taking the form of a colony. The unplanned colony on the banks of the Rajouri nullah and some houses constructed in this river’s bed gets its name from the fact that it can be washed away by flashfloods even of moderate intensity.

MASS migration due to militancy was a nightmare for residents but quite the opposite for the realty business in Rajouri town. Due to shortage of land, even the riverbed is on sale in the town. Bela Colony came up there — nicknamed Suicide Colony because of threat to life and property due to annual flooding — and people are still buying land in it, resulting in price growth.

For Muhammad Qasim Lone of Thanamandi, the killing of his elder brother Master Gulzar by militants in 2001 forced him to migrate from there to Rajouri. Initially, when he thought of buying land to build a house, he couldn’t find any, which forced him to buy land in Suicide Colony.

“After my elder brother was killed, I began to fear for my and my family’s life. I migrated from my native place and approached many property dealers to get me land at a good location in Rajouri but nothing materialised. With no solution in sight, I purchased eight marlas at a cost of Rs 40,000 a marla in Suicide Colony,” said Lone. “Recently, my brother-in-law Muhammad Yousuf also bought four marlas for Rs 60,000 a marla.”

Muhammad Shafiq, who has been living in Suicide Colony ever since he migrated from Thanamandi in 1994 after militancy started in the area, bought 2.5 marlas and built a house. “I bought a marla for Rs 8,000 but these days one marla in my neighbourhood ranges between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000,” says Shafiq. “There is great risk to this colony due to floods and every year water enters our houses, but people still are buying land here.”

“This colony is prone to floods since majority of the houses were constructed in the riverbed, forcing it to change course of flow. Every monsoon, water enters the houses of the hapless people who are living there at their own risk,” says Abdul Qayoom Dar, retired police officer and social worker. “When this unplanned colony was coming up the government didn’t do anything but now since the thousand of lives are at risk, it should act.” He further said that the only option available with the government was to take flood control measures.