DC seeks report on land lying unused in Rajpura

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 19

The Deputy Commissioner’s office has demanded a report on over 533 acres of land in Rajpura allegedly lying unused since 1994. The land was acquired by the state government and allocated to a private company for setting-up of an industrial unit. Residents of eight villages in Rajpura had met him over the matter on Thursday.

Prem Singh Bhangu, president, All India Kisan Federation, said the deputation under the banner of ‘Ujarha Roku Sangharsh Committee’ met the Deputy Commissioner and raised the demand for government acquisition of the said land.

Bhangu said the Punjab government had acquired land measuring 1,119 acres in eight villages in1994. “According to the agreement, the company was to establish an industrial city, thermal plant and other small industries in the area. This exercise was to be completed in 10 years,” he said.

He said in case of non-compliance, the government as per the contract, retained the right to resume the land without compensating the company. “An agitation of farmers was held after which 488 acres of land out of the total was de-notified,” he said.

Later, the company managed to get an extension for holding the land in 2011 but still failed to carry out the work as per the contract. “It has been 27 years since the land has been lying unused. A factory is working only on 98 acres. The remaining land should also be acquired by the state government”, they demanded.

The DC said, “I have asked the SDM Rajpura to submit a report on the matter. We will examine the report and take the next appropriate action.”