Farmers push for pending compensation after high court ruling on Dadupur-Nalvi

Farmers have demanded the Haryana Government to release the pending compensation for land acquired for the Dadupur-Nalvi Irrigation Scheme. The demand follows a Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment quashing Section 101A of the 2018 notification that de-notified the acquired land.

Important developments

2004: Land acquisition for Dadupur-Nalvi Irrigation Scheme begins

2009-2017: Canal operational; water flows through it

2016: High Court fixes compensation at ₹1.16 crore per acre

2018: Haryana government de-notifies acquired land

2024: High Court quashes de-notification, paving way for canal resumption and compensation release

The government had acquired around 1,019 acres for the project beginning in 2004, compensating most landowners between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 14 lakh per acre, far below market rates at the time. In 2016, the high court awarded compensation at Rs 2,887 per sq mt, equating to Rs 1.16 crore per acre plus incidental charges. However, instead of compensating the farmers, the government de-notified the acquired land in 2018.

The Dadupur-Nalvi Canal, which starts at Dadupur village in Yamunanagar and ends at Nalvi village in Ambala, saw water flow from 2009 to 2017. The canal was meant to serve as a source of irrigation during the kharif season and aid in recharging the water table.

Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Harpreet Kaur Jeewan’s judgment on December 20, 2024, quashed the 2018 notification, thereby reopening the possibility of canal resumption and the release of compensation to farmers.

“The present writ petition is allowed… notification dated August 3, 2018, de-notifying the acquired land along with the policy dated September 14, 2018, is quashed,” the judgment read.

Kashmir Singh Dhillon, president of the Dadupur-Nalvi Sangharsh Samiti, welcomed the judgment, stating it was a long-awaited victory for farmers.

“The government must release the compensation amount soon. At the time of acquisition, the market price of the land was Rs 40-50 lakh per acre, but we were paid only Rs 5-14 lakh,” he said.

Farmer Arjun Sudhail highlighted that the canal was unique for being closed after functioning for just a decade.

“This was the first canal in the country closed after 10 years of use. The government must ensure timely compensation,” he urged.