Sangrur farmers stage sit-in over unpaid highway project dues

Farmers in Sangrur have begun an indefinite sit-in at Santokhpura village to demand pending compensation and interest for land acquired for the Jammu-Katra-Amritsar highway under the Bharatmala project. The protest highlights the frustration of local farmers who feel that the authorities have delayed payments promised to them for the land used in the highway project.

Manjit Singh Gharachon, a local leader of the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU), Ekta Ugrahan, said that farmers from Kheri Chandwan, Julan, and Santokhpura villages have not received the mandatory interest on their compensation. “The government must pay ₹6 crore to the affected farmers,” he said. He added that the original compensation was paid at a rate of ₹70.50 lakh per acre, impacting around 40 farmers in total.

Some farmers also claimed that they have not received any compensation at all. In particular, farmers from Jhaneri village are still waiting for their dues. Gharachon said that despite meeting district officials several times and being promised a solution, nothing has been done. The farmers have warned that road construction work will not continue until the government deposits the full compensation, including interest, into their accounts.

Government and administration response

When contacted, sub-divisional magistrate Charanjot Singh Walia said that the compensation has already been provided to the farmers. “They are demanding interest which is to be paid by the National Highways Authority of India. We have already written to them,” he said. However, the farmers argue that interest payments are a legal requirement and must be addressed promptly.

The protest has also drawn attention to how delays in compensation affect local communities. Farmers rely on these payments to manage their livelihoods and invest in their land. The Bharatmala project, which involves the construction of a four-lane expressway expandable to eight lanes, covers a distance of 670 km, connecting Bahadurgarh near Delhi with Katra in Jammu and Kashmir via Haryana and Punjab. The highway is part of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ plan to build 10 expressways across the country under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.

Despite the importance of the project, local farmers feel sidelined. Gharachon explained that the district administration had previously persuaded farmers to halt protests by promising solutions, but no concrete action followed. As a result, the indefinite sit-in continues, with farmers determined to secure their full compensation and interest.

The farmers’ protest underscores the challenge of balancing large infrastructure projects with the rights of local communities. While the highway aims to improve connectivity and economic growth in the region, delays in compensation create hardship for those directly affected. Farmers argue that timely payments, including interest for delays, are necessary to ensure fairness and maintain trust between the government and citizens.

Deputy Commissioner Rahul Chaba and Additional Deputy Commissioner Amit Bambi were unavailable for comments when contacted. Meanwhile, the farmers remain steadfast, stating that construction work will remain paused until the matter is resolved. They have urged the government to provide a concrete timeline for payment and to ensure that all legal dues, including interest, are deposited into their accounts without further delay.

ALSO READ: The AI boom: innovation surge or bubble waiting to burst?

ALSO READ: The fall of the Berlin Wall: A turning point that reshaped global politics

The project itself is expected to bring significant economic benefits once completed. By linking Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir, the expressway will reduce travel time, improve logistics, and promote trade. However, for farmers whose land has been acquired, the lack of timely compensation undermines the perceived benefits of the project.

Local residents participating in the protest said that they are willing to cooperate with the government once their dues are cleared. They emphasized that their demand is not against development but for fair treatment and legal compliance. Farmers are demanding transparency and accountability from both the district administration and the National Highways Authority of India.

The sit-in at Santokhpura has attracted attention from neighboring villages, with farmers from surrounding areas joining the protest in solidarity. The Bharti Kisan Union continues to coordinate efforts, emphasizing that the government must respect its obligations to the landowners.

As of now, the protest remains peaceful, with farmers maintaining a vigil at the site. They hope that their demonstration will prompt authorities to act quickly, ensuring the release of all pending compensation and interest. Until then, construction on the highway in this stretch is effectively on hold.

In conclusion, the ongoing farmers’ sit-in in Sangrur highlights the critical importance of addressing pending dues for land acquired under large infrastructure projects. While the Bharatmala highway promises long-term benefits for connectivity and economic growth, immediate attention to farmers’ compensation, including interest, is necessary to uphold justice and maintain trust between the government and local communities.