Rs 34 lakh per acre for Kartarpur project

Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service
Dera Baba Nanak, March 25

Farmers, whose land is sought to be acquired for the 4.5-km Kartarpur corridor project by the NHAI, will get compensation at the rate of Rs 34 lakh per acre.

With this development, after days of acrimonious arguments between farmers and NHAI and the Gurdaspur district administration, decks have finally been cleared for the construction of the corridor.

The NHAI will now take possession of the land and construction of the road and the Integrated Check Post (ICP) will commence soon.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gursimran Singh Dhillon, who was designated as Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) by NHAI, today held a meeting with the farmers and resolved the issues, following which the rate was finally agreed upon.

The SDM added that the farmers had the right to go in for arbitration with the Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner. “It is their right to go in for arbitration. We cannot stop them from doing so. However, this will not affect the actual construction work of the corridor as according to the rules, the NHAI can now take possession of the acquired land. Once possession is taken, building work of the road and the ICP will start. If the arbitration proceedings go in favour of the aggrieved parties, they will be paid more, but that will have no bearing on the construction process,” said the SDM.

Farmers were protesting the low rate of compensation by the NHAI.

Few days ago, protesting agriculturists were assured by Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa that they would not be paid a penny less than the official rate, following which they called of their protest.

The land of nearly 400 farmers is to be acquired for the project, which comprises the actual road (corridor) and the 50-acre ICP.

Terming it a positive development, Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujwal said, “Whatever apprehensions were there now stand dispelled.”

The SDM arrived at the price after taking into consideration the average rate of the last three years at which the land had been sold in and around the area. After that 100 per cent solatium was added to the amount. A solatium is a form of compensation paid to somebody for emotional rather than physical or financial harm.

“Now I am sure the passage will see the light of the day before the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak,” said Randhawa.