Ex-Sanand prince seeks compensation for plot; CM’s office says land title is clear.
Tata's dream car project seems to be encountering nightmares wherever it drives to — even in Gujarat, the new Nano land. The erstwhile prince of Sanand, the region where Tata Motors plans to set up the plant, has claimed that a part of the area allotted to the company belongs to his ancestors and that he, along with a group of farmers, who have given their land, should be compensated.
On the other hand, the state government has reiterated its stand that land's title is clear and will be handed over to the Tatas soon. "The land title is clear," said K Kailashnathan, principal secretary to the chief minister.
Some farmers in Sanand claim that the land at the Nano site is theirs and hence they should be compensated. However, state government officials rubbished these claims saying they will soon die down.
A group of farmers have approached Maharaja Jayshivsinh, erstwhile prince of Sanand, and they claim that the land was given to the Britishers on lease. "We very much want Nano to come to Sanand and will not create any obstacles. I also want to ensure that if anybody's land has been taken, they should be rightly compensated," Jayshivsinh told Business Standard.
"My grandfather Ranmalsinhji Bhagwatsinhji had given about 1100 acres to British governor Northcote for a lease period of 99 years in 1903," he said, while adding that the lease was over and had not been renewed.
The Anand Agriculture University, which houses Northcote Farm is spread in about 2200 acres, of which 1,100 acres have been given to Tatas for the Nano project. "Later on in 1911, the British government acquired the land by paying compensation of Rs 2 lakh to all the land owners, taking over 2,200 acres. If they want to see the records, they can file an RTI," said Hareet Shukla, the collector of Ahmedabad district.
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According to the agreement in 1903, the yearly lease rent was fixed at Rs 600. When Business Standard inquired about the payment, Jayshivsinh said he has never received any lease amount. "Neither me nor my father never received any lease sum," he said.
In a letter written to the chief minister, Jayshivsinh has said that he should be compensated for his share of land that has been given to the Tatas. Asked how much of the land was given to the Tatas, he said all the survey numbers have been merged into one so it is difficult to access unless the government shows them. "They have never received any lease as they were already compensated for the land by the Britishers. So why the hue and cry now?," asked a government official.