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Integrated Check Post project fails to take off

Attari (Amritsar): The prestigious project of centre of Rs. 90 crore for Integrated Check Post (ICP) to enhance Indo-Pak trade ties with neighbouring Pakistan has failed to take off due to the stiff decision of farmers.

The unrest among farmers put this Rs. 90 crore project of ICP into rough weather and declared aggressive agitation against the Punjab government and Union Government for not meting out uniform price of their agriculture land.

Agriculture lands of farmers are being acquired to build up ICP at Attari Indo Pak Border for the free flow of trucks across the border to Pakistan on reciprocal basis.

Farmers of border village have launched threat as they may come out to stop Delhi-Lahore bus and would not allow crossing over to Pakistan from the Attari Check Post in protest in the next few days.

Farmers around the Attari Check post strongly condemned the decision of Government of India for forcibly acquiring their 120 acre agriculture land on very nominal price for the construction of ICP for the movements of truck.

A group of farmers from village Attari, Rorawala aired their grievances criticised the decision of Union Government.

Farmers said that in this regard met the Akali MLA from Arrari border constituency and Punjab Minister Gulzar Singh Ranikey and Deputy Commissioner Amritsar K.S. Pannu for enhancing the compensation but all in vain.

Farmers said that they did not want to become any hurdle in the way for constructing Separate international gate for vehicular traffic to Pakistan from Indian side.

But they have grudge with Government for not paying adequate compensation.

Farmers said that the Government paying them Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 45 lakh per acre according the sight and location of the agriculture land. But they want parity in land compensation. Each land holder without keeping in view the location of land per acre should be paid at least Rs. 1 crore compensation besides 30 per cent extra for dislocation allowance.

Farmers who raised their voice were Jatehdar Subeg Singh, Rajinder Singh, Jasmegh Singh, Sarbjit Singh, Kuldip Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Nachatar Singh, Gurmit Singh and Manjit Singh from villages Rorawala and Attari.

Farmers claimed that they have already setup costly water tube wells on their agriculture land besides luxurious houses and expecting more compensation.

When contacted Minister Gulzar Singh Ranikey said, “A high-level meeting was called which was attended by all the affected farmers, Members of Parliament concerned Navjot Singh, Dr. Rattan Singh Ajnala, myself and other State level officials. He said that during the meeting farmers expressed their will to hand over the agriculture land to the Government on the prices ragging Rs 20 lakh to Rs 45 lakhs and all the farmers given written consent in this regard”.

Expressing shock over the sudden change in the attitude of farmers, Mr. Ranikey said, “I fail to understand that after giving consent how farmers have changed their mind and are demanding more compensation.”

Earlier on January 18, this year during the visit in Amritsar Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said Rs. 90 crore would be spent for developing infrastructure at Indo-Pak Attari border.

Mr. Ramesh had said that keeping in view to setup modern Integrated Check Post at Attari Border, Rs. 90 crore project has already been finalized and work would be done on war footing level to complete the project at the earliest possible time.

Integrated Check Post project would create space to park 500 trucks at a time for trade with Pakistan, whereas, presently not more than ten trucks could be accommodated at Attari Border. -- PTI

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