High court summons Sangrur, Fazilka and Malerkotla DCs over repossession of NHAI land
Chandigarh: Considering that landowners took back possession of land, which had been earlier handed over to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the Punjab and Haryana high court has summoned the deputy commissioners (DCs) of Malerkotla, Sangrur, and Fazilka before the court on Wednesday before initiating any proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act.The HC passed these orders while hearing the petition filed by NHAI seeking possession of the acquired land for the projects in the state of Punjab.When the matter came up before the bench for hearing, the NHAI filed an affidavit informing that certain land in respect of three projects, out of which two belong to Delhi-Amritsar-Katra project, was repossessed and NHAI was dispossessed.Representing the NHAI, senior advocate Chetan Mittal informed the court that necessary intimation was given to the concerned DCs and SSPs, and photographs showing hindrances were also attached. Rather, at one place, the NHAI contractor was forced and asked to remove the machinery. Mittal added that the main corridor of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway will be completed by Dec 2026, and its connected link (spur) to Amritsar will be completed by Dec 2027, subject to the Punjab govt providing an adequate support system.The HC was informed that 1.77 km of land was taken back by villagers in Fazilka district for the four-laning of the Abohar-Fazilka section of NH-7, 0.07 km was taken back in Sangrur for the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra project, and 0.175 km of land was taken back in Malerkotla for the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra project.After hearing the status report, the HC, while taking a very serious view of the matter, summoned all three DCs to remain present in the court. It was also orally observed that this kind of dispossession of the NHAI and inaction on the part of the authorities concerned will amount to contempt of the court order. The matter has now been fixed for hearing on Wednesday. The copy of the order was not available till the filing of this report.On April 11, the HC directed all DCs of Punjab to ensure encumbrance-free delivery of possession of the relevant tracts of land to the NHAI, so that expeditious execution of highway construction works can be undertaken.Later, on May 5, the HC again passed a detailed order in which it was observed that the major portion where encumbrance-free possession was not given is of Ludhiana measuring 21.89 km, 1.10 km in Jalandhar, 0.3 km in Kapurthala, and 4.0 km in Amritsar, and direction was issued to deliver it promptly.‘Unexpected' hindrances in way of highway projectsSources in the Punjab govt said after its initial satisfaction over land acquisition, the NHAI has flagged "unexpected" impediments in districts including Malerkotla, Sangrur and Fazilka. "If some new hindrances have emerged, these will be removed on priority," said an official.Farmers in a few districts of Punjab have been protesting against ‘meagre' compensation and division of their fields. The landowners have also taken legal recourse by moving an arbitral tribunal to seek higher compensation for their acquired land.A total of 38 projects worth Rs 22,160 crore have been sanctioned in Punjab in the last three years for 825 km of national highways. However, the concession agreement or letter of award for developing four greenfield national highway projects having a length of 134.03 km with a total capital cost of Rs 4,712.46 crore have been terminated or withdrawn due to the non-availability of land as per the conditions within the stipulated time. The information was shared by Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari in the Rajya Sabha.BOXDistrictProjectLandDate of taking back possessionMalerkotlaDelhi-Amritsar-Katra (Package-7)0.175 KMMay 10SangrurSangrur Delhi-Amritsar-Katra (Package-6)0.07 KMMay 10Fazilka4 Laning Abohar-Fazilka Section of NH-071.77 KMMay 7