Crops destroyed for rail corridor: farmers allege no compensation

BILASPUR: Raigarh district administration destroyed standing crops in a village Katnangdeeh as the land had been acquired for Dharamjaigarh rail corridor. Affected farmers have alleged that neither any notice was served for evicting their land plots nor they were compensated for the same. District administration on the contrary claims that most of affected farmers have been compensated and compensation for loss of crop will be disbursed in a week.
The work on a rail corridor from Gharghoda to Dharamjaigarh is on progress. On Thursday administration destroyed standing paddy crops in several fields, which came on the way of the said corridor.
According to information fields of 45 farmers have been acquired for the rail corridor project. Affected farmers maintain that since they have not been given compensation for their land, they tilled it this season as well. A team of district administration accompanied by a police personnels arrived at the village along with earth moving machines and destroyed standing paddy crop.
Farmers pleaded with administrative officials to spare their crop as no immediate construction was proposed in the said fields. They also informed officials that compensation for the said land has also not been given to them. Officials, however, did not listen to them. Sources alleged that some farmers who tried to record videos of the administration action, were brought to nearby police station and threatened.
On the other hand Gharghoda SDM Vineet Nandanwar, in a statement said that Katangdeeh land acquisition award has been issued and most of the affected farmers have also been given compensation. Work on the rail corridor was stopped due to opposition by farmers since last five months, which has begun now. Farmers who have suffered partial damage to crops will be given compensation later.