Mangaluru
The BhuMalikaraHorataSamithi NH 169, accused the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) of involving in fraud activities and corruption to acquire land from owners.
Addressing media here on Tuesday March 15, Brijesh Shetty Mijar said, “We welcome the development works which are in progress from Mangaluru to Karkala. It is really unfortunate that NHAI has involved in fraud and corruption while acquiring land for the road development works which has caused injustice to the farmers. NHAI has involved in fraud activities cheating land owners while acquiring the land.
“In the initial days, as per the guidelines, land acquisition officer had sent an award pertaining to three village to NHAI regional office to get it sanctioned. But the regional office sent back the award without approving it. They were asked to betray the farmers by manipulating the guidelines. The manipulation made the land owners receive 8-12 times less market value for the agricultural land. This was brought to the notice of the deputy commissioner for which he asked the NHAI regional office to resolve the matter again which was ignored. Even the local representatives also ignored our issue.
“As many as 250 agricultural land owners have approached the high court and brought a stay on the land acquisition process. In the last one year, the NHAI have not objected for the stay, which shows the lethargy of the NHAI in completing road development work. We have submitted our demand to minister Nitin Gadkari during his visit to Mangaluru. There is no response from his end yet.
“The agricultural and converted land has been bifurcated during the land acquisition process which is against the guidelines. It is not right to levy GST for demolished buildings for road development works. Even in GST, there is no uniformity. In some village, 12% GST been applied, while in some 24%. In the last 20 years, it was impossible to convert land adjacent to NH 169. After 2016, 3A notification is issued due to land mafia and permission has been given for land conversion.
“Road alignment has been done according to their whims and fancies only to protect the land owners who are close to the officers and prevent their land from getting acquired,” he said.
Mohammed Nazim who also a land owner, released an audio conversation between himself and licence surveyor Kishore Kumar, where he demands Rs 5 lac and token amount of Rs 1 lac to manipulate the road alignment which will prevent his land from getting acquired by the authorities.
He also demanded a CBI probe into the issue and give justice to land owners where fraud by the NHAI will come to light.
Land owners Rathnakar Shetty and Jayaram Shetty were present.
