Alternative approaches to land acquisition discussed

MD, HMRL NVS Reddy addressed the participants of a National Workshop on Implementation of Alternative Approaches to Land Acquisition for Infrastructure Development in India jointly organised by the World Bank and Administrative Staff College of India at ASCI, Hyderabad.

Explaining the urban land pooling policy in India, he recalled the challenges HMRL faced and the innovative solutions it adopted in land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and compensation process in the construction of the mega urban project Hyderabad Metro Rail through a power point presentation.

MD, HMRL stated that minimising the acquisition to the minimum required extent, proper and timely resettlement and rehabilitation helped the process to be simplified and got acceptance from the displaced and affected people. Reddy added that acquisition of sensitive urban properties needs a lot of skill, patience, tact, persuasion and proper relief and rehabilitation strategy.

Elaborating the hurdles faced by him in acquiring 269 acres of land and about 2,500 private properties in the heart of the city for the Metro project and for road widening in the Metro corridors, he explained as to what kind of persuasive measures and tactful handling were used to acquire the affected properties.

Giving example of the successful land pooling adopted in aggregating 824 acres of land in Uppal from 850 small farmers and creating a world class Metro Rail depot and terminal station in 100 acres there, he stated that a small farmer owning one acre of land and getting Rs 20,000 per annum by selling grass, is given a 1,000 sq yd developed property which is worth above Rs 3 crore today.

That is how it became a win-win-win situation for the small farmers, the Metro project, other Government departments and the city with a world class Operation Control Centre and technology hub at Uppal today, he emphasized. Similarly, he explained about how the innumerable hurdles were successfully overcome and several properties and land parcels acquired in the city for the Metro Rail project.

With grit and perseverance, Hyderabad Metro which was once written off as a day dream is now turned into a reality, with 82 per cent completion of the project and two stretches getting certified by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) for commercial operation, he added.