Row over enhancement costs resolved, says CM

Hisar, December 14

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said the matter related to enhancement costs imposed on plot holders of the Haryana Shahri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) has been resolved. The final draft of the conditions of the resolution would be uploaded on the HSVP’s website on Friday, he said while campaigning for BJP nominees in the MC elections here on Friday.

If the draft is uploaded online, it will be a violation of the model code of conduct.

On the direction of courts, the HSVP has imposed enhancement cost on its plots owners after original landowners (farmers) moved court seeking enhanced cost of their land after the acquisition. The HSVP, in turn, asked plot owners to pay the enhanced costs to be paid to farmers.

Khattar blamed the previous government for letting the matter snowball into a major issue. “Enhancement costs accumulated because of the dithering attitude of the previous governments. The BJP government has resolved the matter with one stroke after holding a three-hour-long meeting with representatives of HSVP residents.”

To explain his point, he said plot holders in Hansi were upset as Rs1,250-crore enhancement costs were imposed on them, while the land on which the sector was developed was acquired for only Rs35 crore several years ago. “This is obviously a huge sum and many plot or house owners even offered to return the land to the government as they were unable to pay the hefty charges.”

Khattar, meanwhile, claimed his government had brought down corruption from 57 per cent to 19 per cent. “The aim is to eradicate corruption completely. We have eliminated middlemen who used to make rounds of offices of the Chief Minister and ministers in the previous government,” he said. — TNS

Model code of conduct

On December 7, CM Manohar Lal Khattar had called a meeting with the All-Haryana Sectors Sangharsh Samiti after it had threatened to boycott BJP candidates in the MC elections. Samit president Kuldeep Vats said the CM had agreed to waive interest on all pending enhancement costs and, as a result, plot holders would have to pay only the principal amount.  So, he said, the samiti decided to withdraw the boycott call. “The government is unable to release the details of the agreement as the model code of conduct is in force,” Vats added.