In the backdrop of farmers seeking implementation of Land Acquisition Act 2013 to acquire land by the government for various purposes in the district, a discussion is on among the farmers on what would be the market price of the land and how it would be decided by the officials.
The government has been proposing to acquire more than 50,000 acres for projects like Mallanna Sagar reservoir, National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ), increase in the height of Ghanapur anicut and laying of pipelines for Mission Bhagiratha.
The revenue officials claim that farmers would get more benefit under GO 123 issued by the State government when compared with acquisition under Land Acquisition Act where the market price is given - that is the price as per the registrar’s office, much lower than what the government has been offering-- Rs. 5.8 lakh per acre plus Rs. 5.04 lakh per house in addition to the actual cost of the house.
“Some political parties are misguiding the agitators who are already charged with emotion. They will lose hugely if the Act were to be implemented and would take longer to get compensation. This is not being understood by the agitators properly,” said a senior officer in the Revenue Department on condition of anonymity. Stating that the farmers would be offered three times of the card- registration- price which is about Rs. 80,000 and that comes to Rs. 1.8 lakh per acre approximately, the officer said that they will get other benefits such as Indira Awas Yojana house for which the estimated cost is about Rs. 53,000.
“Though the land is being sold for about Rs. 8 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh per acre, no one is showing that in registration and as most of the registrations are done quoting lesser price, the average will be taken in to consideration,” added that officer.
The question being asked by the land oustees is that why the price paid by the government for farmers under land purchasing scheme (LPS) or the price being paid by the government to farmers under Mallanna Sagar project can be considered as basic price of the land value in the district.
While average price paid under LPS per acre stands at Rs. 4.5 lakh, the price being offered under the project under GO 123 is about Rs. 5.8 lakh per acre.
