NHAI projects: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann slams Centre for raising law and order issue

Chandigarh, August 14

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday slammed the Centre for blaming the law and order situation in Punjab while issuing warning of terminating the highway projects in the state and asked the ruling dispensation to take care of the law and order situation in the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh.

Mann indicated that it was “inadequate” compensation offered by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to the farmers because of which they were reluctant to part with the land for a highway project.

The chief minister was replying to a question on Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's strongly worded letter in which he warned the Punjab Government of terminating eight highways projects if the law and order situation does not improve.

Mann wrote back to Gadkari earlier on Tuesday, blaming the NHAI for the delayed land acquisition process for the road projects in the state.

When asked about Gadkari's letter, Mann on Wednesday questioned why the Centre raised the law and order issue.

“We have issues pertaining to land at two-three places. There is an issue of rate for land acquisition between the farmers and the Centre. From where the law and order has come? On every issue, they say law and order,” he said expressing displeasure over Gadkari raising the law and order issue in his letter.

The chief minister said curfew has not been imposed even for a minute in any city or town in Punjab in the past two and a half years.

“In Haryana's Nuh, curfew was imposed for four months. You tell us what law and order is? You take care of law and order in UP,” he said.

Raising the issue of land acquisition rates, Mann said the land prices in Punjab cannot be compared with that of other states like Odisha.

“Ours is a fertile land. Our land acquisition rate is different. Other states have different rates. You will have to see it,” Mann said.

“We (farmers) will take the right price of land. There is no law and order issue,” he asserted.

In his letter to Gadkari, Mann has said that land prices in Punjab are on the higher side and the farmers are reluctant to part with their lands if they feel that the compensation is not adequate.

Mann also wrote that his government was committed to speedy execution of projects and barring a few exceptions, most of the road projects were on track.

Gadkari in his communication had quoted two incidents, which occurred recently on the Delhi-Katra Expressway projects. In Jalandhar, the engineer of the contractor was brutally assaulted and in another incident in Ludhiana, the engineers were threatened by the miscreants.

Gadkari had also said that due to the pending issues related to land acquisition and the prevailing law and order situation, a number of contractors have requested to foreclose contracts and have raised claims against the NHAI.

Responding to a question on Governor Gulab Chand Kataria holding a meeting with the administrative secretaries on Tuesday, Mann said that it was just an introductory meeting.

“Let him meet. He will come to know who works what,” he said.

Reviewing the progress of the central development projects and welfare schemes, Kataria on Tuesday said that he would act as a bridge between the Centre and the Punjab Government for development of the state.

Kataria, who is also the administrator of Chandigarh, reviewed the projects and schemes at a meeting with senior IAS officers of Punjab.