Issue of less relief for land acquisition echoes in House

Chandigarh, March 9

The issue of inadequate compensation for land being acquired for the Jammu-Katra Expressway echoed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday. Members across party lines demanded a special session of the House or a resolution on the issue.

The matter was raised by Simarjeet Singh Bains of the Lok Insaaf Party. Leader of the Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said the Centre was acquiring arable land of Punjab farmers for the Jammu-Katra Expressway.

Eight Bills passed

Eight Bills were passed on Tuesday, which included the Amity University Punjab Bill, the Indian Partnership (Punjab Amendments) Bill, the Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Prisons (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Punjab Cooperative Societies (Amendment), the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, the Punjab Excise (Amendment) Bill and the Punjab Education (Posting of Teachers in Disadvantageout Area) Bill.

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“These farmers are dependent on their land for livelihood. However, the government is offering inadequate compensation for acquisition, leading to a resentment among people,” said the MLAs.

Earlier, they issued a notice to draw the attention of the House to the matter and to raise the compensation, but the Speaker rejected it. AAP MLAs accused the Speaker of not taking the issue seriously.

SAD MLA NK Sharma and Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi also supported Bain’s demand.

Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that there were a number of instances, wherein roads were built in the middle of fertile land and a farmer’s land was divided into two parts.He demanded that the House should call a special session or pass a resolution to address the issue.

Giving an assurance in this regard, senior-most minister Brahm Mohindra said that issue would be discussed with the Chief Minister and the government would intervene wherever required. — TNS