In 2017, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways announced a four-lane project for the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway-154. The National Highway Authority (NHAI) planned to expand the width of the highway to 45-metre. The strategically important road would reduce the distance from Pathankot to Mandi from 219-kilometre to 171-kilometre and improve the traffic.
In March 2018, the NHAI issued a notification for the land acquisition under clause 3 (D) of the National Highways Act. Following this, the acquisition process began in the Nurpur subdivision of Kangra district. However, in June 2019, NHAI discontinued this process due to high circle rates of land in the district.
In September 2019, the NHAI decided to change the width of the proposed highway from 45 metres to 33 metres and planned to utilise the old tracks to reduce the cost of land to be acquired. According to a news report, it also decided to change the alignment of the proposed project to minimise environmental degradation, excessive hill-cutting, and landslides on the highway route after the state government raised concerns over it.
The pause in the land acquisition process reportedly left the project-affected residents in a state of uncertainty as they had already taken loans for rehabilitation and even began setting up houses and businesses in other locations.
In October 2019, the Four Lane Lok Body (FLLB) submitted a memorandum demanding clarity on the project's future. Following this, on October 29, the President of FLLB, Rajesh Pathania, sat on an indefinite hunger strike after receiving no response on the project's status. He called off the strike on November 14 after the intervention by the District Collector of Kangra, who convinced the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank Ltd to defer the recovery of the loan, and the NHAI agreed to pay 12 per cent interest on the compensation amount.
However, in March 2020, the president of FLLB claimed that the assurance to defer the loan was not fulfilled.
By September, the project started again in accordance with the revised alignment. As per the officially communicated information, the project will acquire land from 31 revenue mohals for project's phase I. It would affect 3,781 persons.
In November 2020, protests rekindled against acquisition rates announced by the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CACA) for two of the mohals. The representatives of Four-Lane Sangarsh Samiti alleged CACA of ignoring the provisions under the LARR Act 2013. According to them, the DC of Kangra had approved the rate of Rs 7,000 per square metre in 2018-19. However, CACA only awarded Rs 1,680 per square metre in the new announcement.
The project-affected residents rejected the awards.
On February 26, 2021, the protestors staged a dharna against the acquisition awards offered. They again submitted a memorandum demanding adherence to the approved circle rates as the current rates were insufficient for rehabilitation.
The president of the Samiti also appealed to the Chief Justice of Himachal High Court for intervention to protect the interests of the residents. They have accused CACA of flouting provisions.
On March 13, 2021, protestors met the Chief Minister to discuss their concerns. As per a news report, the protestors plan to intensify the protests and threaten direct action if the state government does not address their grievances. They appealed to the union minister requesting four times the market value of land be offered as compensation.
Meanwhile, the project-affected persons have also raised concerns over the partial acquisition of their lands as it would render the remaining property useless.
In 2023, land acquisition for this stretch was discontinued. A new project report was required due to the decision to convert the previously-approved two lane highway into a four-lane highway which necessitates revised environmental clearance.
In March 2024, the government declared that land acquisition process will be resumed. However, the project report had not been finalised till May 2024.
As of 2022, the cost of the project had increased by 20%. However, a revised estimate is not yet available.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for compensation
Complaint against procedural violations
Demand for more compensation than promised
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Affected community wanted the land acquisition process to resume
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Private
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Yes
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Residential area
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
No
Source/Reference
<https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/work-on-palampur-padhar-road-stretch-hangs-fire-for-3-years-620621/>
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
10000
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2022
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws, Environmental Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Delay in compensation
Delay in allottment and possession of land/property
Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Himachal Pradesh High Court
Case Number
CWPIL No.268 of 2017
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
National Highways Authority of India
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
National Highways Authority of India
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
N/A
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Four Lane Lok Body, Four Lane Sangarsh Samiti
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Meenakshi is an independent researcher currently based in Himachal Pradesh. She has a Master's in Environmental Management from the Forest Research Institute. She has formerly worked with the Centre for Policy Research, Namati and Kalpavriksh on issues of environmental compliance and regulation. Her interest in the politics of regulatory action gave her the opportunity to study institutions such as the Coastal Zone Management Authorities and the ESA Monitoring Committees. She has also researched on natural resource governance and large-scale land-use change in Indonesia and Myanmar and is experienced in extensive research, writing and advocacy on the Coastal Regulation Zone law of India. Besides researching and reporting from the hills, she enjoys farming, cooking her harvest, tending to her plants and pets, reading in the sun and counting the number of hues at sunset.
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