Interests of families hit by NH project overlooked: Cong

Our Correspondent

Nurpur, February 11

Ajay Mahajan, Kangra district Congress president, has alleged that the local BJP has failed to protect the interests of thousands of families affected by the Pathankot-Mandi highway widening project, especially in lower Kangra areas.

In a press note issued here today, he said that the state government was neglecting the biggest district of the state by not addressing the grievances of the people affected by the highway widening to four lanes who are agitating for the past over two years to seek compensation for their lands and buildings being acquired by the NHAI for the road project.

Mahajan said that the affected people were demanding compensation for their lands more than the circle rates notified by the District Collector, Kangra, in 2019. “The SDM-cum-competent authority for land acquisition, Nurpur, had declared the award for some revenue mohals in Nurpur over a month ago. The affected people were given four times lower rates than the rates notified by the District Collector. It has virtually negated the rehabilitation of thousands of families being displaced due to the road project,” he lamented.