Hit by four-laning, Mandi farmers demand fair relief

Mandi, October 22

A week ahead of the Mandi Lok Sabha bypoll, farmers affected by four-laning projects have taken to the streets demanding implementation of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, for fair compensation and rehabilitation in lieu of the land they had lost to the projects.

At a protest march here today, the farmers accused the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the state government of providing poor compensation for the land lost to four-laning. A number of affected persons gathered here under the banner of the Bhumi Adhigrahan Prabhavit Manch, which has been struggling to protect the rights of the affected farmers.

Manch convener Joginder Walia said, “We have been forced to protest due to poor response of the state government. The affected people have been waiting to get fair compensation for their land and rehabilitation, but the state government has been silent over the issue for the past four years.”

“The people have lost their fertile land to the four-laned project between Kiratpur-Manali and Kalka-Solan, while residential and commercial buildings have also been destroyed. The compensation is quite less,” he added.

“During the Assembly polls, the BJP had promised to sort it on priority, if voted to power, but now the government has been ignoring our demands,” he remarked. — TNS