Solan: Villagers paid pittance for 2023 damage to arable land

Ambika Sharma

Solan, July 12

The villagers who had lost their arable land as well as houses in the last monsoon season have been paid a pittance as compensation even as a lucrative relief package was announced by the state government in October 2023.

As per the relief package, a sum of Rs 7 lakh was supposed to be given for a totally damaged house and Rs 1 lakh for a partially damaged dwelling. A sum of Rs 1.3 lakh was to be given from the disaster relief funds of the state and Centre, while another installment of Rs 3 lakh was also to be granted to the affected families.

Madan Lal Mehta of Serla village said his family lost a sizeable stretch of arable land, but got a meagre compensation of Rs 3,200. Serla village in the Goyla gram panchayat was among 12 severally affected gram panchayats of the Doon Assembly segment, where 150 houses were damaged and sizeable amount of arable land was eroded.

It seems the minimum compensation at the rate of Rs 500 per bigha has been given to various shareholders for the loss of arable land, rued the villagers.

“The worth of land has been devalued by such an assessment. Future land acquisition for constructing road and other infrastructure would lead to lower award and the villagers would incur losses,” said Anil, a villager.

Man Singh from Hara Mehta village said no compensation was received by the villagers after losing of 25 to 30 bigha of arable land despite filling forms.

“With no protective measure like culverts, the arable land will further erode this rainy season. It is sad to note that a 2.5-km road that was supposed to be built from Serla-Serlaghat village under the Scheduled Caste component had not been constructed. The lack of a road will aggravate the hardships of the residents this season,” added another villager.

“A liability of Rs 18 crore was pending in the Kasauli subdivision alone where 500 houses were totally damaged and an equal number were partially damaged. The case is being regularly pursued for receiving more funds to compensate the affected residents,” said Kasauli Subdivisional Magistrate Narayan Chauhan.

“Barely 10 per cent of the announced amount has been granted to those who lost their arable land and houses. The remaining funds have been sought,” the SDM added.

The compensation announced by the state government in its special package appears to be a sham as the villagers have been waiting the compensation for a year now.

Under the special package, the prevailing compensation rate of Rs 3,615 per bigha for damage to agricultural and horticultural land was increased to Rs 10,000. For the crop loss, compensation was hiked from Rs 500 per bigha to Rs 4,000. This package was supposed to be granted from June 24, 2023 to September 30, 2023.