Won’t sell land for AIIMS at Rs 30L, villagers tell officials

Tribune News Service

Rewari, November 5

The district administration has started searching for an alternative site for AIIMS after residents of the district’s Majra and Bhalkhi villages refused to sell off their land at the government rate of 30 lakh per acre. They, however, are demanding not less than Rs 50 lakh per acre.

Officers led by Deputy Commissioner Yashendra Singh visited Khaliawas and Kharkara villages near Masani Barrage on Thursday and inspected some sites.

Of the 503 acres belonging to the Irrigation Department available in two villages, the district administration is eyeing 224 acres for the proposed project.

The DC directed the officers to file their objections, if any, about the site in Majra and Bhalkhi villages within 24 hours.

“The state government is serious about executing the project at the earliest. It wants to construct AIIMS in Majra and Bhalkhi villages on priority. Having said that, the state is still looking for other sites in case there are any hurdles in finalising the site situated in the two villages,” an officer said, adding a meeting of the officers would be convened on Friday to discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, the AIIMS Sangharsh Samiti termed the district administration’s move of searching for alternative sites as a “pressure tactic”.

“The samiti will not let the district administration succeed in its plan. The demand for Rs 50 lakh per acre is justified. The samiti will launch an agitation if the project is shifted to any other place,” said Rajender Singh Nimoth, spokesperson for the samiti.

He added samiti members would stage a dharna on November 7 in support of their demand.

Notably, a team from the Centre had visited the two villages on October 1 and found the proposed site suitable for the project.

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