Mann Fires Back At Centre: Blames NHAI For land Acquisition Issues In Punjab Amid Highway Project Standoff

The tussle between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the centre has further intensified with the former blaming the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for land acquisition issues in Punjab and the two incidents of threats and violence in Jalandhar and Ludhiana.

Responding to a letter from Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Mann reaffirmed his government's dedication to NHAI projects and the swift execution of highway development.

However, he clarified that the two incidents stemmed from causes tied to the concessionaire/contractor, not state negligence. In both cases, local police swiftly registered FIRs, prompting arrests under the appropriate legal provisions.

In his letter dated 9 August, Gadkari expressed serious safety concerns for NHAI officers, contractors, and staff and warned that eight highway projects in the state could be terminated “if the law-and-order situation does not improve.”

Addressing allegations of violence against NHAI contractors, Mann said that police investigations revealed both incidents were linked to causes attributable to the contractor — one was due to over-excavation, while the other stemmed from unpaid dues to a subcontractor.

"Detailed report of Special DGP (Law and Order) is enclosed herewith. Local police have been directed to deploy patrolling teams in the area to maintain law and order,’’ he said in the letter.

Mann highlighted the challenges in land acquisition, emphasising that farmers' emotional attachment to their land — their primary source of livelihood — can be a significant barrier. He noted that in Punjab, high land prices often lead to farmers being reluctant to sell if they perceive the compensation as inadequate.

Mann emphasised that some delays in land acquisition were due to NHAI either contesting or taking an excessive amount of time to accept arbitrators' awards. Additionally, contractors frequently delayed mobilisation after the land was handed over.

Mann stated that there are several cases where farmers, satisfied with the arbitrators' awards, were ready to transfer their land to NHAI at the awarded rates. However, NHAI either challenged the awards or took an excessively long time to accept them, which delayed the acquisition process.

He further noted, "Similarly, there are cases where possession of land was transferred to NHAI, but the contractor took a long time to mobilize machinery and start work. During this period, farmers resumed cultivating the land. Once state authorities transfer possession to NHAI, it is the responsibility of NHAI or its contractors to maintain that possession."

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