Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Jul 6: Those who gave up their land for the purpose of developing the national highway are now preparing to fence the highway, having been frustrated by the agonizing wait for the disbursal of compensation by the government.

This is the pitiable plight of people who gave away their land for the B C Road-Punjalkatte highway widening work. The affected people addressed a press conference at Navoor on Monday July 5 in which they explained that even though the road work is almost complete, they have not received compensation amount from the department. They are angry at the callousness of the highways authority.

The affected people, who poured out their frustration and anger at the highways authority, warned that unless the officials concerned visit the spot within the next 15 days and explain clear stand on the issue of compensation, over 200 distressed people from three gram panchayat limits will fence their land which was acquired for the highway development on July 20 and also hold protest.

Speaking on behalf of the affected people, Cyprian Sequeira, accused the officials of not providing clear information about the land acquisition process to the affected people before commencing work. He charged the department of failing to conduct survey work before beginning work as per law, as a result of which the affected people are made to suffer.

Sadananda Navoor, speaking on the occasion, said that the department officials have been repeatedly telling that the disbursal of compensation had been delayed as officials were hospitalised on account of Covid19 infection. The officials had also assured to credit the amounts due to the accounts of the farmers but so far they have been denied any compensation so far. He said that about two to three years back, land located within Bantwal municipality, Navoor, Kavalamudoor, Kavalapadoor and Pilatabettu gram panchayat limits had been acquired through the special land acquisition officer of the national highways. He said that documents were obtained from the people who lost their lands, and notice had been served duly mentioning the amounts due to the respective land owners, but there has been no response or disbursement from the department. He accused the highway officials of claiming that compensation amount fixation and process of payment are looked after by the special land acquisition officer at Bengaluru and that the people can seek legal remedy if the amount they get is felt to be insufficient. He accused the officials of misleading them.

"The highway department has issued letters to all the landowners mentioning the value per acre fixed for their land, distance from the city, value of building, horticulture value, other trees value etc and had promised to pay interest from 2919-20, So far there is no information about the interest for 2020-21. We gave our land to see that development is not blocked but we are not getting compensation," the land owners complained. The aggrieved people said that they are forced to hold protest as even the people's representatives who promised to see that compensation is disbursed, are now keeping silent on the issue.

The affected people said that on July 20, they will fence the highway by way of protest for not disbursing compensation if there is no response from the officials within 15 days. Affected land owners Ismail, Pavan Kumar, Wilfred, Prabhakar Poojary, Ramachandra Kulal, Jayaram, Praveen Rodrigues, Praveen Somayaji, Gopal Saphalya, Vasant Moolya, Narayan Moolya, Venkappa Gowda, Mohan and others were present.