Mandi: Cutting through rocks and sparse agricultural lands for executing the 4 lane project in Beas River valley to connect up with tourist township of Manali has farmland & house owners anxious as the government is yet to announce the land acquisition price for the big road infrastructure project.
Brigadier (retd) Khushal Thakur , president of Fourlane Struggle Committee, lashed out at the government saying, “interests of land and house owners that is to be acquired for the 4 lane road project is being neglected.”
Talking to the media at Nagwain on Monday, Thakur said, “It is quite clear that thousands of houses and many acres agricultural land would be destroyed once construction of the 4 lane road gets started between Nagchala and Manali.”
“Fear of losing land and houses is giving sleepless nights to the project affected people as the tendering process stands completed, he said.
Many have raised their genuine concerns with the officer stationed at Pandoh aware about their apprehensions; in many areas even measurement of land to be acquired has started but the people who will have to surrender their land and houses still don’t know what price they would be getting for their properties,” claimed Brig Khushal.
“Since the government is not paying any heed towards the 4 lane project affected farmers and property holders, what is not clear is whether the compensation for the land to be acquired would be provided in accordance to 2013 Land Acquisition Act or NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) Act of 1956,” he added.
Announcing plans to intensify the stir against forceful acquisition of land and property without announcing the compensation prices Thakur said, Fourlane Struggle Committee is scheduled to hold a meeting at Aut on 25th March, where affected persons from all 7 blocks through which the road passess would meet to chalk out the agitational path to be taken.
Disappointed with the government’s attitude, Singh disclosed that the assurances of both chief minister Virbhadra Singh and revenue minister Kaul Singh Thakur about announcing an appropriate compensation package to the project affected people have proved false that is forcing us to intensify our agitation.
“We are in no mood in being fooled again and again by the government, said Khushal Thakur.
A theater artist, a script writer and a TV anchor, news is something that grips Renuka. She lives in Kullu.
