Govt begins consultations on Fast Track compensation

KATHMANDU:

Much pending work on acquiring land for Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track road in Khokana, Lalitpur has finally begun. Concerned authorities have started formal consultations to fix the compensation amount of the land in the locality to be acquired for the project.

Today, the Compensation Fixation Committee headed by Chief District Officer (CDO) of Lalitpur held its first discussion regarding the project, the land dispute and compensation issue with stakeholders. CDO Yadav Prasad Koirala, in the meeting, said that the government would provide compensation for the land as per market price and importance of the land.

“Locals should understand that it is a big project that will help bring big positive changes not only in their locality but in the country too,” said Koirala. He also underlined the need of making clear the importance of the project to locals and its long-term impact. Some locals and even people owning land in Khokana were also present in the meeting of the committee, which is formed based on a provision of the Land Acquisition Act 1977.

The panel includes chief of Land Revenue Office, project chief and a representative of District Development Committee. However, today’s meeting being the first did not reach any conclusion regarding compensation rate and decided to meet again at an appropriate time, according to Satyandra Shakya, chief of the Fast Track Road Project.

Locals present in the meeting said they were not against the Fast Track road project and just wanted apt compensation and special treatment for those who will have to forego most part of their land which will leave them with insufficient land to build a house or anything else.

“Main thing is good pricing, as many farmers have to leave their land for the project,” said Shiva Ram Dangol of Khokana, emerging after the meeting. He said based on alignment the government has fixed, he is supposed to leave one-and-a-half ropanis of land.

To give their land, locals have been putting forth demands like higher compensation, equity share in the project and a hospital, among others. As per the existing plan, the government will have to acquire land in Khokana for a 6.5 km stretch of the 76 km expressway that connects Kathmandu with the Tarai and proposed Second International Airport in Nijgadh, Bara.

Shiva Ram Baniya, former chairman of Saivu Bhaisepati VDC said the government had failed to make it clear on who actually had to give up their land and those who would only be affected. “The government first should hold direct discussions with all 250 land owners that have to contribute their land for the project,” said Baniya, whose land is 200 metres away from the Fast Track alignment in Khokana.

Source: THT