Farmers Movement Archive

Public hearing for Delhi-Katra expressway deferred in Sangrur amid protest

PATIALA: Amid the ongoing protest against the land acquisition of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway by farmers, the district administration in Sangrur has deferred public hearing till further orders. The hearing was supposed to take place on February 25 by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) on the expressway and greenfield connectivity. Farmers whose land has been notified for the acquisition in Punjab are protesting against it for few months. Earlier this month, the protesters joined the agitation against this acquisition near Tikri border where farmers from Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi are protesting against acquisition for national highways under Bharat Bhumi Bachao Sangharsh Committee being headed by Ramesh Dalal. Bhawanigarh sub-divisional magistrate, Karamjeet Singh, said, “We have postponed the public hearing till further orders.” The protestors want the land acquisition proceedings halted till the issue of three agricultural laws is resolved and farmers of Punjab are back home. The protestors claimed that they would open the talks over the compensation only after the issue of three agriculture laws are resolved. Earlier, the public hearing was scheduled on December 7 last year but it was postponed by the presiding officer at the request of participants. PPCB member secretary Karunesh Garg said earlier the public hearing meeting was postponed in Sangrur, Patiala and Gurdaspur. However, he said he had no information about the postponement of February 25 meeting. Delhi Katra Expressway Kisan Sangharh Committee coordinator Harmanpreet Singh Jeji said, “Punjab CM is with the central government on this. The state government panel headed by a Punjab minister recently assured us to get the proceedings halted, but it has sped up proceedings.”

The Times of India

2021-02-25

Ludhiana