Shifting of house in NH widening project: NHAI asks DC Jammu to recover compensated amount of Rs 2.65 Cr issued to house owner

Jammu: Shifting of a house coming in the way of National Highway widening project proved costly to the Jammu man as National Highway Authority of India has asked Deputy Commissioner Jammu to issue a recovery letter to him as the amount was given to him for dismantling purpose only. Inder Singh, owner of the house, was given Rs 2,65,11,200 as compensation for dismantling the structure which came in the way of National Highway widening project, but instead, he shifted the building via jacks etc to their available adjoining land and the expenditure incurred in said shifting amounted to Rs 25 lakhs only prompting NH Authority to recover the rest of the amount from him.
The letter issued to the DC Jammu by NHAI read as , “It is to be stated that land was acquired for project work vide final award vide No. DCJ/LA/Award/Rakh-Raipur/2022-23/345 dated 01.08.2022 and DCL/LA/Rakh-Raipur-Ex-gratia/2023-24/323 dated 13.07.2023 in the village Rakh Raipur (Belicharana), Tehsil Jammu-South. In this regard, it is to inform that Inder Singh, owner of the structure bearing Khasra number 201 was compensated Rs 2,65,11,200 as per the award. However, it has come to fore by means of referred news articles that the owner of the structure did not dismantle the structure but instead shifted the same via jacks etc to their available adjoining land. It has been reportedly admitted by the land owner himself that the expenditure incurred in said shifting amounted to Rs 25 lakhs only.

As the building has been saved by means of shifting and landowner is continuing to use the structure by utilising the existing assets/ components of the building whose due value ought to be deducted from the estimate for the purpose of true assessment of due compensation. Thus, it is felt that instant special case needs to be reassessed in the interest of the public exchequer. Rather, only the cost incurred towards shifting should be payable as the structure is no longer attached to acquired land and hence not to be dismantled”.
Meanwhile, despite various efforts by the scribe, It is not to be ascertained what action has been taken by Deputy Commissioner Jammu in response to the NHAI communiqué .

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