Farmers sue Vardhman for 'inadequate' relief

As many as 32 farmers of Talpura and Pili Karar villages of Budni tehsil, the hometown of MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, have filed cases of litigation against "inadequate compensations" paid against their cultivable land by the Punjab-based Vardhman group.

The court has asked for replies from the state government and the company. The company has filed its reply and the government's reply is likely to reach the additional district judge court tomorrow. The state government authorities allegedly acquired 426 acres of land with tube-wells, teak and mango trees, without doing "proper valuation" for Vardhman group's integrated textiles mill.

"The state government acquired the land at the rate of Rs 80,079 per acre for an integrated textile mill of Punjab-based Vardhman group. The farmers have alleged that state authorities lured them and acquired 426 acres of cultivable land. They have been paid Rs 80,079 per acre and 30 per cent premium on it. The mandatory interest of 9 per cent (for the period of acquisition notice till the award date under Land Acquisition Rule) has not been paid to them," Rameshwar Yadav, the legal expert who is advocating the case told Business Standard.

He added, "Farmers are not only demanding proper compensation but also want to be listened. The authorities had forced them to surrender their cultivable lands due to which most of them have become landless labours and are facing starvation."

As many as 67 farmers filed cases in the additional district judge's court at Nasrullaganj. Later 28 farmers entered an out of court settlement. They have been paid an additional Rs 55,000 per acre.

Meanwhile, a senior executive of the company told Business Standard, "The company paid Rs 1.08 lakh per acre to all farmers. Later the farmers had been offered Rs 55,000 additional compensation. Of the total 99 farmers, 34 accepted the additional compensation. All the farmers were also paid 12 per cent interest over Rs 88,000 floor price of the land and all eligible farmers have been given jobs in the mill."

Sakharam and Guru Prasad Sharma, who are fighting the case said the state government authorities and the then chief minister Babulal Gaur turned down their demands.

"Our land has not been valued properly, the prevailing rates are at Rs 4-7 lakh per acre. Our teak trees, tubewells and other assets have been underestimated," they said.