Probe payment of land compensation to wrong persons: Ghanaur villagers

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Rajpura, October 21

Residents of five villages in the Ghanaur Assembly segment have urged the Chief Minister to order a probe into the alleged “transfer of compensation” for land acquisition to politically connected individuals instead of actual tillers.

Fake beneficiaries

Instead of farmers who had been tilling the village common land for over a decade, those close to the ruling elite were shown as tillers to pocket the compensation. Ghanaur villagers

Transparent process

There is no scam in compensation being paid to villagers. Every case was closely scrutinised by the local panchayat officer, SDM and DC before the full and final payment. — Madan Lal Jalalpur, Ghanaur MLA

Alleging wrongful selection of individuals for payment of the compensation, residents, particularly of the Scheduled Castes and other backward classes, of Aakrhi, Sehra, Sehri, Takhtumajra and Pabra villages, have now demanded “an independent probe to ascertain the wrongdoings in the case”.

In Ghanaur, panchayat land was acquired for the 1,012-acre Modern Industrial Park and Integrated Manufacturing Cluster.

Alleging that many persons close to a local political lobby had been “wrongfully transferred lakhs of rupees”, Gurdhian Singh Seona, a senior leader of the Krantikari Kisan Union, said the five village panchayats were transferred money in crores for land acquisition. While Aakrhi village got Rs 51 crore, Sehra got Rs 127 crore, Sehri Rs 47 crore, Pabra Rs 50 crore and Takhtumajra Rs 14 crore.

“A major chunk of the amount was spent without logic. Twentyone rooms were constructed at the Aakhri government school, having just 15 students, while sand was dug out from the playground to construct a huge marriage palace,” claimed social activist Neeraj Ranga.

“Instead of farmers who had been tilling the village common land for the past over a decade, those close to the ruling elite were shown as tillers to pocket the compensation. In Aakrhi village, a panchayat member was allotted Rs 51 lakh compensation, despite not owning any land in his name,” claimed over a dozen residents who have now demanded an impartial probe into the case.

Patiala Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Hans said he would look into the matter. “Let me go through the documents. I will first ascertain the facts,” he said. Ghanaur MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur told The Tribune that there was no scam in compensation being paid to villagers.