Post News Network
Karanjia, July 1: The under-construction ambitious Ranchi-Vijayawada National Highway, which has exceeded its deadline, is beset with hurdles in land acquisition in Karanjia in Mayurbhanj. Several people are reluctant to give away their land for the road project alleging they are not offered adequate compensation.
Since the project remains stuck, people fear to face lot of problems in commuting, particularly during rainy season.
The residents of ward-1 said in case of heavy rain, they will be worst affected as the area will be marooned. The construction work of a bypass of this project is being undertaken through six villages like Sarubali, Jogideuli, Karadia, Karanjai, Palasia and Girima, which connects to Deo River bridge.
Before the road project was carried out, the authorities of Karanjia Notified Area Council came out with a notification about land acquisition in 2011. A Palli Sabha was held to take the consent of the people. In the meeting, the project-affected were assured that they will be paid compensation according to the market price.
Four years after the Palli Sabha, the authorities started paying compensation, but it is alleged it was too less than the market price. Scores of land losers took up the matter with the district collector at a recent public grievances hearing camp. They claimed that the compensation amount was far less than the market value of their lands. Besides, no particular guidelines were followed with regards to compensation, they stated.
Moreover, they were not taken into confidence nor served any notice regarding the compensation amount fixed as per the Land Acquisition Act 2013, they alleged. Even none of their complaints were taken into consideration then, the land losers added. They also alleged that there was lack of accuracy in the land measurement process. Excess land was allegedly being acquired than required for the project, forcing the land losers to resist. Eventually, the road project is far from being completed in a few months.
