One year on, Jhajjar farmers await land compensation

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, July 22

Despite court orders, farmers of Kasaar village falling under the Bahadurgarh subdivision have been waiting for compensation for their land for one year. They have approached the HSIIDC authority several times, but to no avail.

The state government had acquired over 177 acres of Kasaar village in 2008 for industrial development. It had announced compensation of Rs 23 lakh per acre, which was lesser than the market rates. Though the farmers received the compensation, they approached the court to get the amount enhanced, said Toni Kumar, sarpanch of the village.

“In April 2015, the court directed the state government to provide the farmers compensation at the rate of Rs 1.02 crore per acre. The order brought cheer to the farmers who were expecting to get the enhanced amount with immediate effect, but the authorities is yet to release the compensation,” said the sarpanch.

Shri Bhagwan, whose 5 acres were acquired, said more than 100 farmers had been waiting for compensation for over a year, but the authorities were unnecessarily delaying compensation by making hollow assurances.

“The authorities are not taking interest in disbursement of the enhanced amount even after the court has sealed its bank accounts for committing delay in complying with its orders,” he said.

Rohit Deswal, estate manager, HSIIDC, at Bahadurgarh, said a proposal about the compensation of Rs 85 crore for 77 acres had been sent to the higher authorities for approval and it was likely to get the nod soon.

“The enhanced compensation for 77 acres will be released in the first phase following the directives of the court. Since the court has already sealed the bank accounts of the department, a new account will have to be opened for disbursement of the compensation,” said Deswal.