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Purbanchal Model Town Project

Violation of compensation rules alleged

By Nazmul Ashraf
The decision regarding compensation for the lands earmarked for the Purbanchal Model Town Project (PMTP) has been termed by Rajuk officials a violation of relevant rules.
The decision to provide compensation at a rate of Taka one lakh per bigha was taken purely on political grounds and it was not based on the prices of the lands, the officials told The Daily, Star on condition of
anonymity.
The per bigha price of the lands for the PMTP at Yusufganj of Narayanganj will hardly be Tk 30.000 if the price Is fixed as per the land acquisition law. the officials said.
Citing the relevant rules, they said the price is fixed by averaging the rates at which lands In the project area were sold during the year that fol-
lowed ihe government order for acquisition. As per law. the deputy commissioner concerned is to assess the price and report on the issue to the authorities.
According to sources, the compensation rate was fixed on October 16 at a meeting on Implementaiion of the PMTP with works Minister Rafiqul Islam Mic in the chair. Home Minister tbdul Matin Choudhury. who hails from tte project area, attended the meeting.
The government decision reportedly came in the wake of agitation by the land owners :o4^Mk«ed price. .Earlier. '^^^^Vuer assessing the rtedlv offered the ’7 l:,r a btgha
owners re cept it. An influen-administer who is learnt to have initiated, the PMTP. assured the land owners of compensation at a rate of Tk one lakh per bigha. some sources said. The decision for compensation'was taken in line e minister’s assur-anc^^^B jointed out.
A^Jf fficial of the Rajuk said "the matter has taken a political colour." The ruling party leaders of the area are striving for impfemeptation of the project to gain popularity' while the opposition leaders are trying to create obstacles by backing the land owners' agitation for higher rate of compensation, the official said.
Fake deeds showing higher prices of lands were being produced by a section of the owners and the government decision for compensation was based on those, the offlcfal said.
"The Rajuk will provide compensation at the rate fixed
by the government. But it will cause a sharp rise in the project cost now estimated at Tk 300 crore." he said.
When contacted the works minister denied the allegations of irregularities In fixing the rate of compensation and said the decision was taken as per rules.
The compensation rate of Tk one lakh per bigha: has been fixed on the basis of the report of the DC," the minister said.
He also quoted the Rajuk officials, attending the October 16 meeting, as saying that the project would remain viable even if compensation was given at this rate.
Quoting from the acquisition laws which were amended several months ago. the minister said compensation could be given one and half times the actual price. The DC's report showed that the highest price per bigha was upto Tk 30 lakh, he said, adding the rate of Tk one lakh, therefore, was not unrealistic.
Stressing the need for implementation of the project to solve the acute housing problem of the city dwellers, he hinted that the demand of the agitating iand owners was also taken into consideration.
The minister, however, declined to comment on the ' 'political aspects' of the project.