Farmers Outraged by Himachal Pradesh Government's Legal Challenge on Land Compensation

Government's Legal Challenge Ignites Farmer Protests

Munish Sood
Mandi

The decision by the Himachal Pradesh government to contest the High Court's ruling regarding land acquisition compensation has sparked significant unrest among farmers and families impacted by various infrastructure projects throughout the state.

During a press conference held in Kullu, Brigadier (Retd.) Khushal Thakur, who serves as the Patron of the Himachal Pradesh Four-Lane Joint Struggle Committee, criticized the government's actions as a “serious injustice” to countless farmers whose lands have been taken since January 1, 2015. He argued that the government should comply with the High Court's ruling rather than appealing it in the Supreme Court.

High Court Ruling on Compensation Rates

Brigadier Thakur reminded attendees that in 2015, the government led by Virbhadra Singh had issued a notification that set rural land acquisition compensation at Factor-1 (twice the market value). However, the High Court later deemed this notification unconstitutional and supported the farmers' demand for Factor-2 compensation as outlined in the Land Acquisition Act of 2013.

“There is no legal basis for Factor-1 compensation in rural areas anywhere in India. The law explicitly requires Factor-2,” Thakur stated emphatically.

Government's Disregard for Legal Obligations

He highlighted that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, along with the Land Acquisition Act and the manifestos of both major political parties, endorse Factor-2 compensation. Thakur cautioned that any delay in implementing this would only escalate the financial burden, as the state would ultimately owe increased compensation along with interest dating back to 2015.

At present, nine states provide compensation based on Factor-2, while eight utilize a graded system, leaving Himachal Pradesh as the sole state adhering to Factor-1.

Concerns Over Rehabilitation and Environmental Safety

Thakur also claimed that families displaced by four-lane projects have not received adequate rehabilitation support, and the compensation policies remain ambiguous. He raised alarms about environmental issues, referencing incidents of tunnel collapses and land subsidence during construction between Mandi and Kullu, and called for thorough Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) before any further developments.

Threat of Statewide Protests

The Joint Struggle Committee, which includes leaders such as Dinesh Sen, Brijesh Mehta, and Bhubnesh Sharma, has warned of a statewide protest movement if the government does not retract the SLP and adhere to the High Court's decision.

Brigadier Thakur urged the Chief Minister and Revenue Minister to engage in high-level discussions with farmer representatives to reach a consensus and resolve the matter amicably.