Even as all is set for the visit of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on February 20,to lay foundation stone of the multi-crore Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari border,many farmers whose land has been acquired are unhappy with the compensation. There has been discrimination against some farmers who were paid much less than others, said Amarjit Singh,a farmer whose eight acres of land has been acquired for the project. The long-awaited ICP will provide a fillip to the Indo-Pak border trade and facilitate the flow of visitors between the two countries. The state government acquired huge chunks of land from the farmers in Roranwala village near Attari for this purpose. Farmers had been up in arms against the check post which will be spread along the borders.There had been numerous protests and agitations forcing the administration to review the compensation packages. For category A Rs 31 per acre was given and Rs 14 lakh for category C. The market value of the land is Rs 40-45 lakh per acre, alleged another farmer Manjit Singh,whose 15 acres has been acquired. The farmers also alleged that the categorisation of land was arbitary. We will meet Chidambaram and submit our memorandum seeking more compensation. Our appeals for the adequate compensation are already pending with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office concerned, said Rajinder Singh,another farmer. Amritsar DC K S Pannu,when contacted,said the farmers opposition was unjustified as they had been paid adequate compensation. The payments were made according to the land rates prevailing in the area. The different in the rates is due to proximity of land and accessibility from the road, he added. Pannu said the farmers should not come in the way of such an ambitious project,which will give boost to the commercial activities in the region. In case they are dissatisfied,they can approach the court. I have written statements with me where farmers had expressed satisfaction with the compensation,he said.
