Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Land acquisition is currently underway for Gut Nos. 11, 12, 26, 37 and 42 in Abdi Mandi village of the tehsil, with measurements already conducted for Gut Nos. 11, 12 and 37 as part of the Daulatabad bypass project. However, a land mutation case concerning Gut Nos. 11, 12 and 37 (evacuee or EV Property) has entangled the revenue administration since 2024, and a final decision is still pending.
The disputed land is included in the acquisition process for the proposed 3.8-kilometre, 45-metre-wide bypass road in the Daulatabad area. As the matter is sub judice, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will deposit compensation amounting to approximately Rs 10–12 crore in court. A hearing on the matter was held throughout Monday.
Between October 2023 and January 2024, the procedural documentation for the land in question was completed. However, confusion persists over whether the land is classified as enemy property, evacuee property, or privately owned. The revenue administration had earlier placed a board declaring it as enemy property, while later it was stated that a decision had been taken under court orders treating it as evacuee property.
After the issue was brought into the public domain by the newspaper, the government initiated an inquiry into the entire matter. During the budget session, MLA Eknath Khadse alleged a scam of Rs 1,000 crore in the Abdi Mandi case. At present, a departmental inquiry against district administration officials is ongoing.
Survey conducted in multiple groups
Urgent measurements have been carried out by the Department of Land Records in Gut Nos. 11, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 37 and 39 in Abdi Mandi. These have been recorded in Register No. 054756. Compensation will be paid to those whose names appear on the land records (7/12 extract). Following objections raised regarding the disputed guts, the NHAI land acquisition department has decided to deposit the compensation in court.
Legal action to be taken
“In view of the Abdi Mandi case being sub judice in the High Court, legal action will be taken regarding compensation for Gut Nos. 11, 12 and 37. A hearing in this matter was held on Monday,” said Vijay Raut, NHAI’s land acquisition officer.