SC asks NHAI to pay farmers higher land compensation

The Supreme Court came down heavily the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for paying peanuts to landowners and according to reports, has asked it to deposit the enhanced amount of the payable land compensation to the farmers and landowners whose lands had been acquired for widening the NH24 on the Bareilly-Sitapur section in Uttar Pradesh. SC has additionally allowed the landowners to withdraw half these amounts. Initially in October, NHAI had determined the compensation of the land as per the circle rates applicable to agricultural land. However, the landowners had moved the district magistrate, Shahjahanpur, to seek a higher compensation on the grounds that their acquired lands were being used for commercial purposes. NHAI had objected the decision saying it could not have been done based on the alleged use of the land without proving its illegal or unauthorised use, thus disentitling the landowners from claiming compensation on a commercial basis. NHAI had acquired the land in question for widening, maintenance, management and operation of National Highway No. 24 from 262 km to 288 km on the Bareilly-Sitapur Section, under the National Highways Act, 1956.