₹1,600 crore land acquisition for the Samruddhi Expressway

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The stretch of the Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway, known as the Samruddhi Mahamarg, passing through Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Jalna districts measures 112 kilometres. Approximately ₹1,600 crore has been paid as compensation to landowners whose land was acquired for the expressway project. After completion of the land acquisition process and construction, the first phase was inaugurated on December 11, 2022.

However, compensation relating to certain disputed land guts has been deposited in court. Meanwhile, a political cold war has erupted between leaders of the Shinde Sena and Uddhav Sena over land acquisition at Jogwada/Jatwada, hibanama (gift deeds), ownership rights and the figure of ₹1,150 crore. The controversy began after Lata Waghmare submitted a representation to the revenue administration citing an example of a hibanama and seeking compensation. Leaders of the two political factions have since engaged in a war of words, leaving the administration in a difficult position.

In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar tehsil, land from 35 villages has been acquired for the expressway, along with 11 villages in Gangapur and 15 villages in Vaijapur. In total, land from 61 villages in the district has been acquired with compensation amounting to around ₹1,600 crore. Interchanges have been developed at Harsul-Sawangi, Lasur Station, Maliwada and Vaijapur. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) completed the Mahamarg in the district at a cost of ₹3,400 crore. In Jalna district, land acquisition has taken place in 25 villages. Of the 16 project packages, Packages 8, 9 and 10 pertain to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Jalna districts.

What is the factual position?

The sub-divisional officer (SDO) Venkat Rathod said, “Lata Waghmare claimed that three acres of land received by Javed through a hibanama were valued at ₹150 crore, and on that basis she argued in her representation that land allotted to her through a hibanama should be valued at ₹1,150 crore. However, the gut number she cited does exist in its earlier form. In Jogwada, there was Gut No. 174, and in Jatwada, Gut No. 89. Following consolidation of land guts, these numbers ceased to exist. She has produced documents in the name of her great-grandfather, but the relevant land records (7/12 extracts), both past and present, do not reflect his name. She had earlier raised objections regarding compensation for Gut No. 154. Certain 7/12 record disputes arose during land acquisition for the expressway, and the corresponding compensation amounts have been deposited in court.”

Demand for CID enquiry

It may be noted that district chief of Uddhav Sena, Ambadas Danve, has alleged that an attempt was made to award compensation improperly for land at Jatwada/Jogwada under the Samruddhi Expressway project. He has pointed towards MP Sandipan Bhumare and his driver Javed Rasul Shaikh in this connection. Danve has demanded a CID enquiry from revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule into how 23 acres and 3 gunthas of land in Gut No. 174, belonging to Lata Waghmare, were allegedly transferred to Javed through a hibanama.

Shinde Sena’s counterattack

MP Sandipan Bhumare responded that his driver Javed was born in 1984, whereas Danve alleged that the hibanama was executed in 1971. “At that time, Javed had not even been born. A hibanama (gift deed) can take place if the land belongs to a Muslim individual and is gifted to Muslim only, not of other religions. There is no Gut No. 174 in Jatwada. Disputes regarding Gut No. 154 are ongoing, and the compensation has been deposited in court. Danve is making false allegations,” Bhumare said.