AIIMS project: Manethi farmers may get land instead of money

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, December 10

The Rewari district administration is planning to approach the state government with a proposal to provide land instead of money to farmers of Manethi village who have agreed to give their land for the AIIMS project.

The administration has also identified over 1,000 acre shamlat (common) land in 19 villages within 10 km radius of Manethi. These villages are Khol, Kholeta, Pali, Baduda, Bawana Gurjar, Bhalkhi, Ahrod, Mamdiya Aasampur, Ahir and Thethar, Nandha, Gothda Tappa Khori, Palda, Balwadi, Maayan, Chita Dungra, Nangal Jamalpur, Pranpura and Kolana under Khol block. Besides these, around 75 acre common land is also available in Dhawana and Mandola villages of Dahina block.

Sources said the project needed at least 150 acre to construct a hospital, administrative and academic blocks, hostels for students, residential quarters for doctors and other staffers, playground, power substation and a sewage treatment plant.

“Manethi farmers have already announced to sell their land for the project but the administration wants to provide them land in exchange so as to keep their source of livelihood alive. Hence, the AIIMS Sangharsh Samiti has been asked to take affidavits from all those who want to sell or get land in exchange so that a proposal could be moved to the state government for final nod,” said an officer on the condition of anonymity.

AIIMS Sangharh Samiti spokesman Rajendra Nimoth said majority of farmers were in favour of getting land in exchange so a delegation of the samiti had called on ADC Pradeep Dahiya yesterday to apprise him of their demand.

“We don’t want to let the project shift to any other place. So, farmers are also ready to sell their land for the sake of development of the region as the project will ensure ultramodern healthcare facilities here,” Nimoth said, adding that over 1,000-acre private land was available in Manethi.

Deputy Commissioner Yashendra Singh said it would be decided by Manethi farmers whether they wanted to sell their land for AIIMS project or accept land in exchange but the administration would mention both the alternatives in the proposal/report to be sent to the state authorities.