Compensation: Mansa admin struggles to book fake beneficiaries

It seems disbursal of the compensation provided by Punjab government for the loss of cotton crop and land acquisition in Harsimrat Badal’s constituency of Mansa is proving to be its Achilles heel.

In both cases, genuine beneficiaries have been deprived of the compensation. Officers have either been charge-sheeted or suspended, proving the corruption allegations in revenue office to be true.

Last year, due to the whitefly attack, farmers suffered huge losses and since then they have been struggling to get compensation promised by state government. Around Rs 30 lakh of compensation amount was distributed among fake beneficiaries and despite suspension of three patwaris, fake beneficiaries have not been booked by district police.

“In February, I had written to the-then Budhlada DSP to take action against accused but nothing happened,” sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Kala Ram Kansal, who was recently transferred from Budhlada to Mansa, said.

The SDM said that since the issue had come to light, around Rs 15 lakh of compensation amount has been recovered.

More than 60 beneficiaries who received compensation in the land acquisition of Gobindpura thermal plant have been issued a notice by the district administration after a high court order asked them to return the money running into crore.

In many cases, one of the joint owners of the plot of acquired land was denied compensation due to corrupt revenue officers.

Last year the-then Budhlada SDM Rajesh Tripathi and five other revenue officials were chargesheeted after an inquiry found that fake beneficiaries were given compensation and jobs.

Budhlada subdivision has reportedly been the worst sufferer as far distribution of compensation is concerned, due to SAD MLA Chatan Singh Samao whose supporters allegedly influence most government functionaries.

“You will never find such allegations coming from any other sub-division in the district. Supporters of Samao are capable of getting tenders and also transfer officers who don’t toe their line,” an officer, on the condition of anonymity, said.

“Strict action will be taken against fake beneficiaries,” deputy commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said. “I have appointed ADC Sanyam Aggarwal to probe the issue,” he added.

SAD LEADERS OPPOSE NOTICE IN LAND ACQUISITION CASE

Babra Singh, a nambardar and a SAD worker from Gobindpura village has been issued notice from the revenue office to return the compensation amount of Rs 1 lakh however he blames the district administration for faulty assessment. “We will return the money if our land is returned to us,” said the SAD worker.