Hyderabad: A clause in the state’s land acquisition law barring land owners from filing for higher compensation has become a hurdle in acquiring properties.
The operational guidelines for land acquisition ask land owners to submit an undertaking that they will not file cases in courts seeking higher compensation after they give a consent letter for land acquisition.
One project that has been hit by this is the Pharma City, that is to come up on the city’s outskirts.
The government has decided to acquire 8,000 acres to set up the first phase of Pharma City that will in its final avatar have 12,500 acres. The government has been able to acquire only 6,500 acres in two years.
To expedite the project, the government has fixed a deadline of three months for officials to acquire the remaining 1,500 acres.
The government has been insisting that farmers give an undertaking that they will not file cases seeking higher compensation in future. This is to prevent farmers from approaching courts, which may halt the land acquisition process.
Farmers are refusing to submit undertakings on the ground that the compensation offered was only Rs 12.5 lakh per acre, which includes a 2BHK house constructed for poor worth Rs 5.05 lakh.
Deputy Chief Minister Mohd Mahmood Ali, who holds the revenue portfolio, said, “Land is being taken over after receiving consent letters from the farmers. Some Opposition parties and organisations with vested interests are trying to create controversy over the undertakings.”
He said the consent letter had more value than an undertaking. “We are seeking the undertaking because some vested interests are filing cases in courts to halt projects in the name of farmers. This is only to ensure faster execution of projects.”
Farmers' associations are also objecting to the government seeking the undertakings.
“The compensation being offered is very meagre. Even in remote districts, we don’t get land for Rs 12 lakh per acre. The Pharma City is coming up adjacent to the city, where the land value is higher. Moreover, the government had not revised land rates for five years. The farmers have the right to approach courts if land rates are not revised periodically,” said Mr T. Sagar, secretary, Telangana Rythu Sangham.
