NHAI shelves Kaithal bypass project after paying Rs 24 cr to farmers

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Kaithal, August 2

Here’s how complicated land acquisition can be: the National Highway Authority of India acquired 412 acres in Kaithal  for an 18-km bypass on the National Highway-65. Ranging from Rs 27 lakh to Rs 40 lakh per acre, of the total compensation of Rs 119 crore, the government distributed Rs 24 crore to farmers. 

Kaithal villagers, however, want more and have been joined by political parties in their protest. Fearing the situation may turn violent, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has now shelved the project. The fate of Rs 24 crore already distributed is not known.

“The NHAI has in principle cancelled the proposed new bypass as authorities have got reports that the ongoing agitation of farmers may create law and order problem in the area,” confirmed KM Pandurang, Kaithal Deputy Commissioner. The NHAI has now directed the Haryana Public Works Department to conduct a survey to assess the possibility of making the old bypass from Jind Road to Ambala Road wider as the news bypass is not possible. 

The authorities have taken the decision as farmers in seven villages of Kaithal — Gyong, Begpur, Kyodak, Ujhana, Nard, Pyonda and Titram — have been protesting for the past 14 days, demanding Rs 70 lakh per acre as compensation. 

The farmers have been unrelenting and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Congress, too, have announced their support to them, leaving no scope for a way out. 

“The authorities will recover the compensation distributed among farmers soon,” said Pandurang.

Congress communication cell chief Randeep Surjewala today met the farmers.

“Our party would not allow the Haryana Government to acquire even an inch of land of our farmers without their consent and a proper compensation for it,” said Surjewala.