Farmers push for pending compensation after high court ruling on Dadupur-Nalvi

Farmers have demanded the Haryana government to release pending compensation for land acquired for the Dadupur-Nalvi Irrigation Scheme. The suit comes in the wake of a judgment by the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashing Section 101A of the 2018 notification that canceled the notification of the acquired land.

Important developments

2004: Land acquisition for Dadupur-Nalvi irrigation scheme begins

2009-2017: Operational channel; water flows through it

2016: High Court sets compensation at Rs 1.16 crore per acre

2018: Haryana government withdraws notification of acquired land

2024: High Court quashes denotification, paving way for canal resumption and release of compensation

The government had acquired around 1,019 acres for the project starting in 2004, compensating most landowners between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 14 per acre, well below market rates at that time. In 2016, the high court awarded compensation of Rs 2,887 per square metre, which is equivalent to Rs 1.16 crore per acre plus incidental charges. However, instead of compensating the farmers, the government canceled the notification of the land acquired in 2018.

The Dadupur-Nalvi canal, which starts from Dadupur village in Yamunanagar and ends at Nalvi village in Ambala, saw water flowing from 2009 to 2017. The canal was meant to serve as a source of irrigation during the kharif season and help recharge the water. table.

The judgment by Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Harpreet Kaur Jeewan on December 20, 2024 quashed the 2018 notification, thereby reopening the possibility of resuming the channel and granting compensation to farmers.

“This writ petition is admitted… the notification dated August 3, 2018 is annulled, denotifying the land acquired along with the policy dated September 14, 2018,” the ruling reads.

Kashmir Singh Dhillon, president of Dadupur-Nalvi Sangharsh Samiti, welcomed the judgment and said it was a long-awaited victory for the farmers.

“The government must release the compensation amount soon. At the time of acquisition, the market price of the land was Rs 40-50 lakh per acre, but we were only paid Rs 5-14 lakh,” he said.

Farmer Arjun Sudhail highlighted that the canal was unique for having been closed after operating for just a decade.

“This was the first channel in the country closed after 10 years of use. The government must ensure timely compensation,” he urged.