Greenfield Alignment venture: Punjab govt to chargesheet former Mohali income officer

The Punjab authorities has informed the Punjab and Haryana excessive court docket {that a} resolution has been taken to problem a chargesheet to Gurjinder Singh Benipal, former land acquisition officer (LAO)-cum-district income officer (DRO), Mohali, in reference to the ₹263-crore improve within the land acquisition price in respect of the 30-km stretch of the Greenfield alignment venture, arising between Mehmadpur, Ambala, and IT Metropolis, Mohali.

The knowledge on this regard was given by the state’s counsel in the course of the resumed listening to of a plea by the Nationwide Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which had approached the excessive court docket looking for probe into the matter.

The court docket, whereas posting the matter for additional listening to on July 12, requested the state’s counsel to make clear as to when the draft awards had been despatched to NHAI, which is subject material of inquiry now. The state has additionally been informed to make clear what process was adopted in the course of the acquisition course of.

As per NHAI’s allegations, Benipal, in Might-July 2021, had assessed the land acquisition price for the 30-km stretch at ₹922 crore, which was objected to by the NHAI, as greater than the market charges, which it had estimated at ₹700 crore.

Nevertheless, in a subsequent analysis, dated September 30, 2021, the compensation was additional elevated to ₹1,185 crore.

NHAI submitted that Benipal was transferred to Moga on October 28, 2021, and the very subsequent day, on October 29, 2021, NHAI acquired an e-mail that land acquisition price had been assessed at ₹1,185 crore by Benipal as DRO. As per NHAI’s declare, the award was assessed antedate.

To buttress its claims, NHAI argued that in a gathering with the Punjab chief secretary, Mohali deputy commissioner and the brand new DRO on October 29, 2021, it was knowledgeable that the award shall be finalised by November 15, 2021.

However on the identical date, NHAI acquired an e-mail in regards to the ₹1,185-crore award handed by Benipal. In its April 28 plea, NHAI had claimed that it had demanded a probe into the episode, however the state authorities didn’t reply.

The notification for the acquisition of land for the 30-km stretch between Ambala and Mohali was issued in December 2020. The six-lane venture is being constructed below the central authorities’s Bharatmala Pariyojna. The highway will additional connect with the 32-km stretch until Kurali, which is arising at a price of ₹700 crore. As soon as full, the hall will assist ease visitors in Chandigarh and Zirakpur by serving in its place route for these heading from Delhi in the direction of Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.