Compensation received for acquired land after four years, then the check bounced three times

Gariaband. Farmers are angry due to the bounce of the compensation check issued after four years. The aggrieved farmer alleged that the clerk of the SDM office is demanding bribe in lieu of check clearance. The check has bounced three times for not giving money. On receiving the complaint, District Panchayat President Gauri Shankar Kashyap immediately reached Mainpur SDM office.

The matter is related to the Behipadar Diversion Irrigation Scheme, under which the agricultural land of the farmers was acquired in the year 2021. The construction work of the scheme has been completed, but till now the farmers have not been able to get the full amount of compensation.

A check of Rs 13.63 lakh was issued to Shivkumar Mishra, a resident of Amlipadar, in April 2024. His son Aditya Mishra said that he contacted Bank of Baroda, Mainpur several times to get the check cleared, but every time the check bounced. It is alleged that the clerk of the SDM office is demanding bribe in lieu of clearing the cheque. The cheques of those who gave bribe were cleared, but he refused to give bribe, so his cheque has not been cleared yet.

Aditya told that the cheque issued by the land acquisition officer i.e. Devbhog SDM has bounced thrice on 24 April, 1 May and 6 May. For this amount, he has made 20 rounds from Amlipar to Mainpur (about 70 km) so far.

District Panchayat Chairman took cognizance

Seeing the seriousness of the matter, District Panchayat Chairman Gauri Shankar Kashyap reached Mainpur SDM office. At that time, in-charge SDM Tulsidas Markam was present in his original office Devbhog. The chairman gave him complete information on the phone, on which Markam ordered an immediate investigation and assured to get the cheque cleared and settle other pending payments soon. Chairman Kashyap said that such incidents tarnish the image of the government. It is necessary to settle all pending payments soon.

Hundreds of farmers are still wandering

According to the information, 135.21 hectares of land of 745 farmers was acquired under the Behipadar, Chhaila and Rata Khand Diversion Projects. In return, compensation of Rs 157.96 crore was to be given. Till last month, about Rs 125 crore has been paid to 207 farmers, but more than 300 farmers are still to get an amount of about Rs 30 crore.

In-charge SDM gave assurance

In-charge SDM Tulsidas Markam said that check bouncing is a serious matter. It will be investigated and the related deficiencies will be removed so that such a situation does not arise again. Information about the remaining pending cases will also be collected soon and resolved.