Chandigarh-Baddi Railway Line On Right Track

Haryana government initiates steps for acquisition and transfer of land to the Railways

Y.S. Rana

The writer is a Hamirpur based Himachali settled in Chandigarh

After many tactical retreats and surges, the Chandigarh-Baddi railway line seems to be on track as Haryana government has finally swung into action on the issue. A meeting was held on May 31 under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Secretary to initiate steps for acquisition and transfer of land to the Railways. It is stated that the Chief Secretary had called up back-to-back three meetings for acquiring land earlier also. Sources revealed that transfer of land to Railways at the earliest was discussed in detail. It was also decided that the committee would first work on transfer of government land to the Railways, then start work on acquisition of farmers’ land.

In the meantime, the committee members have held discussions with panches, sarpanches and farmers on the subject. It was also of the opinion that as a major part of land belonged to farmers hence, before acquiring their land negotiation would be held. Panchkula district administration was asked to start work on acquiring land. The state government has also formed a committee consisting PWD Engineer-in-Chief, officials of the Railway Department, DRO Panchkula, Tehsildar of Kalka and SDM and half a dozen officials of different departments were included. It has also been decided to speed up the matter of acquisition of land. Haryana has to provide 50% land for the project. Members of the committee had consultation with the concerned panches, sarpanches and the farmers of 23 villages.

The Railway Ministry has approved the project two years ago. Himachal government since then swung into action with double the speed to complete the project within stipulated period. Sources said that decks on part of state government were cleared when a decision was arrived at in a meeting held on July 16, 2016 of negotiation committee held at Baddi. In Himachal the railway lines involved 367 bighas of land spread over nine villages. Since the survey has already been completed and track will pass through Surajpur-Chandi Dhamal near HMT-Lohgarh-Khera-Tanda-Joluwaal-Kona-Murrawala-Shitalpur-Haripur-Sandholi. Land acquisition for the Chandigarh-Baddi railway line has been commenced by the Northern Railway and the authority has given Rs 45 crore to the Himachal Government as its share for land acquisition in its area for the project. The Himachal Government will also spend a similar amount for land acquisition.

On the other, Haryana government was reluctant on the ground that from Surajpur to Baddi approximately land of 1905 farmer of 23 villages has to be acquired. From Surajpur in Haryana to Baddi in Himachal Pradesh, a track of 28 kms will be laid. The Chandigarh-Baddi railway line is 33.2 km long.

Project To Take Five Years

Dinesh Kumar, Divisional Railway, Amabala said there were three stakeholders in this project—the Railways, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. The cost of this project had been pegged at Rs 1540 crore which would be shared equally by all three stakeholders. After providing land to the northern railway for the project, it will take five years to complete it. Of this total amount, Rs 516 crore will be required to pay the farmers whose land is to be acquired. Sources in the Railways said that it has written to Himachal Pradesh and Haryana government to give their shares.

To Benefit 4,000 Industrialists

The railway link for the hilly state was a long-pending demand of industrialists of the area. The rail connectivity would benefit more than 4,000 industrialists and also solve the problem of traffic congestion on the Pinjore-Baddi road. More than 500 containers go out of Baddi every month by road. In 2009, the Chandigarh-Baddi link ran into trouble as land acquisition was to be made in the area earmarked for a mega housing project.

Himachal-o-Meter

The state’s ups and downs this week

Himachal To Exceed Revenue Target For 2016-17

Shimla: Despite demonetisation slowing down economy across the country and delay in implementation of Goods and Services (GST) Act, Himachal is all set to exceed the tax revenue target of Rs 6,364 crore for 2016-17. As per provisional figures, the revenue collections crossed Rs 6,294 crore and process of reconciliation of data in banks and treasury is still in progress and the target would be achieved, said Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner KK Sharma. In fact demonetisation of old Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes proved a blessing in disguise as the contractors and traders with huge arrears rushed to deposit tax in old currency notes and revenue collection was Rs 391 crore between November 10 and November 30, 2016. The collection from Value added tax (VAT) crossed Rs 4,500 crore, excise revenue breached Rs 1,310 crore mark and collections under Passenger and Goods Tax (PGT) and Other Taxes and duties (OTD) stood at Rs 122 crore and Rs 362, respectively. The 5% tax on all online sales too added to the revenue. The new excise policy of the government also increased the excise revenue by about 33% and the tender fee for participating in auctions alone fetched about Rs 30 crore.

Eight Persons Killed As Wall Caves In Baddi

Solan: Eight migrant labourers, including four children, were killed and nine others injured when a 60 feet wall adjoining their jhuggis caved in at Swaraj Majra village in Baddi industrial area following heavy rain and storm. Though a team of policemen and locals extricated those trapped under the debris within half an hour, five people were killed on the spot and three more succumbed to injuries later. Preliminary investigations conducted by the police revealed that the jhuggis had been constructed on a government land and some private individual was collecting Rs 300 as monthly rent from the dwellers. The nine persons, who were injured in the mishap, were rushed to Community Health Centre at Baddi where the condition of seven of them was stated to be serious. While six of them were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, one injured person was shifted to the GMC Sector-32 at Chandigarh. Two others were being treated at the CHC, Baddi. A sum of Rs 50,000 each has been extended as immediate relief to the kin of the deceased by the SDM Nalagarh.

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