Farmers demand 4-time relief for land acquired for highway projects

Farmers affected by the Kiratpur-Manali and Mandi-Pathankot highway projects have reiterated their demand for a four-time compensation for land acquisition after the Himachal Pradesh High Court recently struck down a April 1, 2015, notification that limited payouts to only double the market value. This ruling is being hailed as a major relief for thousands of farmers, reigniting their hopes for justice after years of protests and political neglect.

A Division Bench of Justices Trilok Chauhan and Sushil Kukreja delivered the order on May 22 in the Keshav vs State of Himachal Pradesh case. The court directed that land compensation in rural areas must follow the provisions of the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, which stipulates a four-time compensation under Factor-2.

Joginder Walia, convener of the Bhoomi Adhigrahan Prabhavit Manch, criticised the BJP and the Congress for “betraying” the affected farmers. He said that the Congress government had issued the now-invalid 2015 notification, capping compensation under Factor-1, while the BJP had promised a four-fold payout in its 2017 election manifesto but did not deliver on it.

“We have held numerous rallies, submitted several memorandums and even held a protest in front of the Vidhan Sabha in Dharamsala on December 14, 2021, but no government took concrete steps to provide the rightful compensation to farmers,” Walia said. “We thank the High Court of Himachal Pradesh for restoring faith in the judicial system and offering hope to thousands of aggrieved farmers,” he added.

Brig Khushal Thakur (retd), a long-time advocate for fair compensation, reiterated that he had repeatedly said that the 2015 notification was illegal and unjust. “Now, the High Court has confirmed it,” he added.

Bhoomi Adhigrahan Manch president BR Kaundal said that several committees had been formed over the years, including the one chaired by Govind Thakur in 2018, but no decisive action was taken. “Shockingly, at a 2022 meeting in Mandi, the affected farmers were told that the Centre’s approval was needed though Union Minister for Highways and Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari had stated that the Central Government would not object to a four-fold compensation if the state supported it.”

Kaundal accused successive state governments of using the issue for political mileage. “Both Congress and BJP have misled farmers. They will have to answer for this betrayal,” he added.

Himachal Tribune