Vigilance flags irregularities in land acquisition for Moga road

MOGA: Punjab vigilance bureau has detected irregularities in land acquisition for National Highway (NH) 105-B, which entails four-laning of the 38-km Moga-Bajakhana stretch.

Sources said land was bought from farmers on throwaway rates to get high compensation, just before the start of the land acquisition process. Who bought the land is being probed.

The vigilance report has also found that in major violation of rules, NHAI issued a notification on July 6, 2018, for acquiring land to widen NH-105B, and appointed the then Moga SDM as Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA). On August 9, 2018, however, the NHAI had issued a 3A (1) notification, in which description of land, village and plot number etc were given.

The vigilance, which started its investigation on June 18, has given a report which says, “After probing the procured record, it has been found that 57 deeds of land, which was to be acquired in Moga Subdivision, were registered after August 9, 2019, which is violation of relevant law. No deed has been registered in Bagha Purana after notification.”

Moga vigilance DSP Kewal Krishan said, “We have sent a report to DC Moga for his comments on investigation. The preliminary probe was just for verification of facts. How much acre land belongs to these 57 deeds, how it happened, how much money and who are involved will be ascertained, only after we complete the investigation.”

Moga SDM Satwant Singh, “The project was halted even before the release of awards. If an inquiry has found irregularities, then these have to be there.”

Moga DC Sandeep Hans said, “Yes, a file has been put up and there is delay from our side. We are gathering information that we will share with the vigilance.”