There was a clash between farmers and police over land possession in Malerkotla, Punjab. Farmers broke the police barricades. After which the situation here remains tense. Farmers and administration came face to face over land possession for Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway.
The land was captured by the police here on Tuesday
After this, on Badhwar, members of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) came to protest. According to the information, they also pushed the tippers installed by the police and removed them from there.
The meeting is going to be held under the leadership of PM Modi
A high level meeting is going to be held under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Wednesday evening regarding this matter. Apart from NHAI officials, Punjab government officials have also been asked to attend the meeting. In this meeting, a report will be presented on the problems being faced in acquiring land for Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway.
High Court is also strict
On the other hand, Punjab and Haryana High Court is also strict regarding land acquisition. In a recent hearing, the High Court has asked the Punjab government to complete the land acquisition process within two weeks. In this matter, the Punjab government has to file its reply in the High Court on 6 September.
Dispute between Central and Punjab Government
There has been a long-standing deadlock between the Central Government and the Punjab Government regarding land for National Highway projects in Punjab. A meeting was held in Delhi on 16 July. In which Public Works and Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO participated.
At the same time, in this meeting, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari asked the Punjab Government to get possession of the highway land on priority basis.Also warned that if this work is delayed then the project will be cancelled. After this the matter became a little heated.
Centre had warned Punjab government
Then on August 7, contractors working in NHAI projects wrote letters to the Central and Punjab governments. He also said that he is receiving threats from land mafia to burn them. He also warned that if action is not taken in this matter then he will stop the work.
DGP was asked to take action
After this, a letter was written to Punjab DGP asking him to take action. Also, two FIRs were also registered at that time. After this, on August 10, a letter was written to the Punjab government on behalf of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The issue of security of NHAI officials and contractors was also raised.
Threatened to withdraw project worth Rs 14,288 crore
Nitin Gadkari said that if security is not provided then the 293 km long project costing Rs 1,4,288 crore will be stopped. Then on August 12, a meeting was held with officials on this issue on behalf of Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria.
On the other hand, NHAI had approached the High Court regarding this matter.It was also said that in October last year, the High Court had asked the Punjab Government to acquire the land and hand it over to them, but this did not happen. After this, last Friday the High Court asked the Punjab Government to complete this process in two weeks.
Price of land is high in Punjab
After this, on August 13, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured cooperation to the Center and clarified that two FIRs have been registered in the case of attack on contractors. Along with this, he had said in the letter that the price of land in Punjab is higher than other states. In such a situation, farmers hesitate in giving land. They will resolve the matter by meeting with the farmers.
Gadkari had issued a letter
Gadkari had issued a letter demanding personal intervention from CM Mann in this matter. He had written in the letter that I request that the state government take immediate corrective steps, register FIR and take strict action against the culprits so that further such incidents can be prevented and the confidence of NHAI officers and employees can be restored.
Referring to the review meeting of NH projects held on July 15, Gadkari said he was assured that pending issues related to land acquisition and law and order would be resolved on an initiative basis.
many were brutally beaten
The contractors said that the employees constructing the Katra Express had received this threat from Amritsar. Two cases have been mentioned in the letter written by NHHI. The contractors said that on July 20, Manish Sharma was brutally beaten by the people of the village. Of which he has also given some photos to the government. FIR was registered in this case. But then the accused were granted bail on the spot.