–Gopal Prasad Baral/RSS
Mahottari: The owners of land given for the purpose of Bardibas-Jaynagar rail service project have complained with the Minister why they were not provided compensation. As Minister for Physical Infrastructures and Transport, Basanta Nembang, arrived here this morning to inspect the railway activities, the locals showed severe concern over government’s sheer negligence to determine compensation though the land was banned for use for five years.
“The Rail Department has banned us from using and transacting our lands for the proposal railway. But we did not get any compensation at all,” Khadga Bahadur Singh, a resident from Bardibas-14, shared before the Minister Nembang. He urged the Minister to determine the land’s value and provide compensation.
Another Gopi Pokhrel viewed, “The price of land is skyrocketing every year. Why didn’t the Rail Department pay heed to distribute compensation?”
The Minister assured the locals that compensation would be provided soon after determining the lands’ value.
The government had been claiming that the railway to be constructed with the economic and technological support since 2014 would complete in 2020. But no activities have been forwarded as per the timeschedue which has further despaired the people here.
Minister Nembang who had been here to inspect the work progress on the Bardibas-Jayanagar rail service and East-West rail service said preparatory works in regard with the determination and distribution of compensation for the third section, construction works in the section and the service operation along the first section would begin. As he said, the service will come into operation on the first section (Kurtha-Jayanagar) within the current fiscal year.
Meanwhile, Compensation Assessment Committee, Mahottari’s chair and Mahottari Chief District Officer, Surya Bahadur Khatri assured the issue of fixing compensation of 52 biga of land in Bardibas-14 find a conclusion within a few weeks. Similarly, the compensation issue of land towards Mithila municipality in Dhanusha would be finalised soon, said the District Administration Office, Dhanusha.
Among the 69 kilometers railway track from Jayanagar, India to Bardibas of Mohattari, 69 kilometers lies towards Mahottari, 36 kilometers is towards Dhanusha and around two kilometers lies towards India.
“The remaining works of the fixation and distribution of compensation would end soon,” said Department of Railways Director General Balaram Mishra who was accompanying the minister on the occasion. He also admitted that in the past works could not take place as per the schedule.
Works of expanding the broad-gauge railway had begun in 2014 with the financial assistance of Rs 7.2 billion of the Indian Government.
The 51-kiolometer Bijalpura-Bhangaha-Mahottari-Janakpur-Dhanusha-Jayanagar railway service had begun in 1994 and it was shrunk to 29 kilometers after it was hit by the floods in 2058 BS. With the commencement of works to upgrade the railway, the service has remained completely closed.
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