Sanjha Morcha

Govt fails to give land in lieu of Army’s 57 acres Had acquired 10 acres in Jalandhar Cantt for widening of national highway

Govt fails to give land in lieu of Army’s 57 acres
Road-widening work in progress near PAP Chowk in Jalandhar. Tribune Photo: Malkiat Singh

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 12

The Army is upset with the state government for dilly-dallying on giving land to it in exchange for defence land in Amritsar and Jalandhar.The government had acquired about 10 acres of land in Jalandhar Cantt for widening of the national highway near PAP Chowk. In exchange, it had promised to give an alternative land.It’s been two years and the government is yet to honour its promise. The widening of the road, though, is in progress.In Amritsar, the government had acquired 47 acres and promised 100 acres in exchange in Nawanshahr’s Bir Sarnagwal village.In a meeting here today, senior Army officers reminded Revenue and Home Department officials about the unfulfilled promises. The government assured the Army of speeding up the process of giving land in exchange for the Amritsar land. As for the Jalandhar Cantt land issue, the government said the matter had been stuck.Sources told The Tribune the Army was asked to settle the matter with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), as both were Central departments.The Army reminded the state government that the previous SAD-BJP government had pressed on the Army to give the land for a public cause. Moreover, the state government is the executing agency for land acquisition.On the insistence of Army officers, the state government agreed to examine the possibility of acquiring land for the Army, but officials insisted the Army should settle the matter with the NHAI first.An official said Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh would take a final call on the matter.Sources said as per the laid-down formula of providing alternative land, the Army is seeking land worth Rs 400 crore in Bir Sarnagwal village in lieu of Rs 98-crore land.


Army offers to construct road  Thursday’s meeting discussed a contentious matter of passages in Jalandhar Cantonment used by residents of six villages to gain access to the national highway. Citing security threats, the Army wants to construct a boundary wall and block the entry of villagers. The villagers and local politicians protested and the matter is hanging fire. The Army proposed to construct a periphery road outside and along its boundary wall leading to the national highway for the benefit of villagers. For this, the Army has demanded 20 acres from the state government. The meeting agreed to form a committee of officials to study the project and report within 15 days.