Farmers demand higher relief for acquired land

JAMMU: Farmers whose land has been acquired for the construction of Ring Road on Monday demanded private negotiation or compensation at par with the Central Land Acquisition Act for their land acquired by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

The land owners’ welfare committee addresses media in Jammu.

ibune News Service

Jammu, January 14

Farmers whose land has been acquired for the construction of Ring Road on Monday demanded private negotiation or compensation at par with the Central Land Acquisition Act for their land acquired by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

The NHAI has acquired 7,000 kanal through the revenue department of the state for the 58.25-km Jammu Ring Road project.

The land has been compensated at an amount of Rs 1.7 lakh per kanal plus 15 per cent of “jabarana” (a part of the amount to be paid for acquiring the land).

Balwinder Singh, a social activist, leading the Ring Road Kissan Sangharsh Samiti, said, “Poor farmers are being looted by the state government and the NHAI, as their land has been undervalued.” “As our state has not implemented the Central land acquisition law, farmers were paid as per the undervalued amount for their land and the NHAI has started work on it,” he added.

Balwinder said the state Land Acquisition Act has a provision for ‘private negotiation’ under which the rates for the land could be negotiated with the farmers.

“We appeal to the Governor to personally intervene in the issue and order private negotiation or implement the Central Land Acquisition Act in the state,” he said.

“Under the Central Land Acquisition Act, farmers are getting four times of the land value. However, in our state, we get 15 per cent extra of the land value. This is not sufficient even to buy one-fourth of the acquired land. We will not allow the work unless our demands are fulfilled,” he added.

The NHAI, the executing agency of the Rs 2,000-crore prestigious project, claims that 100 per cent land has been acquired and paid through the revenue department of the state.

About the project

The NHAI has acquired 7,000 kanal through the revenue department of the state for the 58.25-km Jammu Ring Road project.
The land has been compensated at an amount of Rs 1.7 lakh per kanal plus 15% of “jabarana” (a part of the amount to be paid for acquiring the land).