Rourkela: Land acquisition is proving to be a serious roadblock in construction of National Highway-320-D connecting Hockey Square in this town with Bandhamunda and Jareikela, sources pointed out Tuesday.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is eager to complete the construction of the 25-km stretch between Bandhamunda and Jareikela. However, it is not being able to acquire the land needed for building the road.
The trees that were a hindrance to construction have been cut with the necessary clearance. The NHAI has also agreed to abide by the rules regarding the elephant corridors as stated by the Forest department. However, land acquisition for the project has become a cause of concern for NHAI. The NHAI will have to acquire 5.98 acres of private land and 21.140 acres of government land in Mahipani, Bhalulata, Jammal and Bhulatabahal mouzas for construction of the said highway.
The NHAI authorities had issued notices for land acquisition in the concerned areas, February 7, 2022. In the notice, it also stated that compensation will be provided at government rates for those whose land will be acquired.
Since April 2022, land prices have increased in the stretch needed for highway construction. Initially, the NHAI had decided to pay the owners rates that were prevalent the day the notice was issued. Now, however, the landowners are demanding compensation at present-day prices. This has put NHAI in a huge fix. The owners have said that unless given the present-day rates, they will not part with their respective lands.
Despite several rounds of discussions between the land owners and NHAI officials, the stalemate continues. Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Land Acquisition Department has asserted that it will stick to the rates that were prevalent in February 2022. So the stand-off continues with the construction of the highway suffering a severe setback.
When contacted, head clerk Rabindra Das of Land Acquisition department informed that a fresh notice has been issued to all the registered owners for payment of compensation as per the government price prevalent till, February 7, 2022. He asserted that no new compensation rates have been offered to the landowners.
Jyotshnamayee Biswal, an engineer of the National Highway Division in Rourkela, said that the land will be acquired as per the rate prevalent February 7, 2022. The construction of the highway will begin on war footing after the conclusion of the elections (Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly) in the state, she informed.
PNN
