BALASORE:Land acquisition for the proposed expansion of an industrial complex in Balasore district has run into a tussle over cost with the land losers demanding compensation as per the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 and the administration offering less than bench mark price.
According to sources, the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) had decided to acquire 1,099 acres of land in nine villages under Remuna tehsil of the coastal district for the project.
The sources said Rs 20.7 crore was deposited with the District Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) on October 7, 2013 to acquire land in Balgopalpur, Gourapur, Gopalbindha, Dangargaon, Keshpur, Jenabarei, Naraharipur, Gobindapur and Jhinkamundali villages. Though the Socio-Economic Survey (SES) of the entire land was conducted and report submitted to the Collector, possession of land was stalled as the land losers demanded the price as per the new Land Acquisition Act.
President of land losers’ association Ranjan Kumar Nayak said even as the IDCO Land Officer had asked the district administration to revise the cost of the land and benefits as per the new Act in September last year and submit a report, the officials concerned did not follow the order.
“Though they revised the benefit packages, the base price of the land remained unchanged. While the land losers are supposed to get between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 60 lakh per acre as per the new Act, the officials are offering Rs 4.17 lakh to Rs 12 lakh for Sarad-I and Sarad-II land respectively as per classification of land,” he said.
Another local leader Karunakar Panda said the price offered by the administration is even less than the prevailing bench mark valuation of the land decided by the Government.
Collector Sanatan Mallick said the matter has been placed before the higher authorities in the Revenue Department who will take a final decision.
COMPENSATION ROW