Activist Sarma pleas fair pay from NHAI
Social activist and former IAS officer E A S Sarma sought the intervention of chief secretary Sameer Sharma for ensuring compensation payable for acquisition of land on behalf of the National Highways Authority of India as per relevant laws.
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Visakhapatnam: Social activist and former IAS officer E A S Sarma sought the intervention of chief secretary Sameer Sharma for ensuring compensation payable for acquisition of land on behalf of the National Highways Authority of India as per relevant laws.
In a letter, he brought to the attention of the State government, the guidelines issued by the ministry of road transport and highways on land acquisition for National Highways, based on a harmonious construction of the provisions of the NHAI Act, 1956 read with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (RFCTLARR), and also keeping in view the court judgments on the subject.
For example, the district administration in NTR district vide their proceedings No, Rc GIA 1686/2021 dated 30-8-2021, with reference of acquisition of lands in Kavuluru village in G Konduru Mandal (Vijayawada division), has not clearly referred to the ministry of Road Transport and Highways guidelines while dealing with the objections of the landowners. These proceedings are apparently inconsistent with the Centre's guidelines and the apex court's orders, he stated.
Sarma pointed out that paragh 5.6 of these guidelines, among others, is important. It indicates the applicability of the provisions of the RFCTLARR for valuing agricultural lands from the point of view of food security of the region.
The Supreme Court had recently ordered the NHAI to be liberal in granting compensation to landowners whose lands were acquired for the NHAI.
