Nachan residents oppose govt move to acquire land

Residents of Moviseri in the Nachan Assembly constituency of Mandi district gheraoed SDM, Gohar, Lakshman Singh Kanet, as he came there to identify vacant government land yesterday. Locals expressed resentment over the government’s land acquisition efforts to Kanet, who then returned without completing the task.

The controversy intensified following a court appeal by local landowner Mir Bakhsh, who is demanding over Rs 1,061 crore in compensation for his 92 bighas from the state government. The government was seeking alternative land in the Drang constituency, but was facing opposition from local people. It is now looking for agriculture land in Moviseri.

Prominent local leaders, including Nachan MLA Vinod Kumar and District Council Vice-Chairman Mukesh Chandel, joined the protest. They said that the land in question was originally donated for agricultural purpose and must not be used to settle outsiders. The residents feared that the transfer of this land to a private entity could obstruct access routes to local temples and facilities.

The SDM said that he visited the place on the government’s directive to identify available land, but due to the protest, he had to leave without completing the work. The residents of Moviseri continued with their protest against what they considered as an encroachment on their rights and resources.

The Himachal High Court had directed the government to act promptly on the compensation claim filed by Mir Bakhsh, a resident of Mandi district. Bakhsh had demanded Rs 1,061 crore in compensation on the plea that the land on which Nerchowk medical college and hospital and several other government offices had been built belongs to his family.