The process of distributing compensation to owners and affected people in the proposed fast-track area has not picked up momentum as the Financial and Infrastructure Committee is delaying to put the proposal for the Cabinet to consider it, Minister for Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) Hridayesh Tripathi told Republica on Wednesda.[break]
"There is a confusion as to when the distribution of compensation will begin as our proposal has not been listed for scheduled Cabinet meeting. I have voiced my concerns to Chiefy Secretary Madhav Ghimire and Secretary of Financial and Infrastructure Committee of the Cabinet Lila Mani Poudel today (Wednesday)," said Tripathi.
In September, a high-level committee formed to facilitate land acquisition for the 76-km super-highway had recommended to the government to provide compensation at 75 percent of the land price to the settlers having no land ownership certificate. As per the predetermined scheduled, distribution of compensation should have begun from November 24 in Makawanpur.
"Chief District Officer of Makawanpur has not so far sought funds to distribute as compensation to land owners amid this confusion," a high-level source at MoPPW told Republica on Wednesday.
Land Acquisition Act 1977 grants authority to Chief District Officer to make valuation of the land and arrange for the distribution of compensation for the land to be acquired. The government last month fixed the price of land between Rs 110,000 and Rs 280,000 per kattha based on location in Makawanpur district.
Similarly, compensation to the displaced people who are occupying public land has been fixed at 75 percent of the price offered to private land owners. Around Rs 320 million is required to provide compensation to acquire 1,409 kattha of land in Makawanpur.
Similarly, price for one anna of land in the Kathamndu valley was fixed Rs 32,000 to Rs 100,000 depending on location of land. At that rate, requiring around Rs 280 million would be required to compensate for 275 ropanies of land to be acquired in the district. However, process of fixing compensation amount for the Lalitpur district has not been completed.
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