Compensation for Jhajjar land raised

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, March 2

The District Revenue Office has revised the compensation for the land of Chhara village acquired for the National Highway No-334B (Meerut to Loharu in Bhiwani) and sent the proposal to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for approval.

Sources say the rate has been revised on the suggestion of a committee of district officials headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner formed by the Deputy Commissioner keeping in view strong objections raised by residents of Chhara village over the compensation. The villagers have been staging an indefinite dharna in Chhara village since February 4 demanding compensation at the market rate.

“According to the earlier compensation rate, a land owner was to be given Rs 40 lakh per acre while the revised rate would get him more than Rs one crore per acre, if approved by the NHAI. But we are demanding Rs 2.50 crore per acre, as per the market rate,” said Ramesh Dalal, chief of the Bhumi Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, which is spearheading the agitation.

Dalal said that he had met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday and the latter assured him of approving the revised rates soon.

“Over 85 acres of our village have been acquired for the highway. The district authority has calculated Rs 1.03 crore for adjoining Bhapdoda village while the market rate for Chhara village land is around Rs 2.50 crore per acre. Hence, we are demanding equal compensation as per the market rate,” said a protesting villager.

Manbir Sangwan, District Revenue Officer, confirmed that the rate of compensation had been revised. “The NHAI has been intimated about the revised rate,” he added.

NHAI to approve higher rate

According to  the earlier compensation rate, a land owner was to be given Rs 40 lakh per acre while the revised rate would get him more than Rs 1 crore per acre, if approved by the NHAI. But we are demanding Rs 2.50 crore per acre, as per the market rate. —Ramesh Dalal, Chief of Bhumi Bachao Sangharsh Samiti