Ring road: JDA's woes continue

Jaipur: The problems of Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) in connection with the ring road project seem to be endless as now it can face a financial setback.
As JDA has not able to provide 60% possession of the land within given period of time it will be compelled to pay penalty to the awarded company, Sanjosh Supreme. A JDA senior official said, "As per the agreement the authority has to pay 20% of the project cost as penalty.The maximum amount of penalty is Rs 9 crore." He added, "The JDA has acquired around 1,620 hectares for the project and within 45 days it was mentioned that it has to provide 60% of the acquired land to start the work." It was given in the agreement that if the authorities fail to give possession of the land for the project within the stipulated time it has to bear a penalty. The commencement date of the project was July 28.
He added, "The issue will be discussed in the empowered committee meeting as the penalty is still on." An official explained that in the agreement it was also mentioned 0.01% of Rs 890 crore, which is the total project cost, would have to be given per day by JDA to the company as penalty, in case of failure.
An official said the penalty was not taken by the company on the late deposit of financial closure. To save some money the JDA will deduct the penalty amount.
An official source said, "The firm has deposited an amount of Rs 44.5 crore as performance guarantee and as it is paying interest it is forcing the authorities to give possession of the land. However, the JDA has possession of only 4 km for the 47-km ring road project. "With no land in hand the authorities have committed a mistake and it should be a lesson for future. To start survey and leveling process at least 60% land is required," said a source.
Though, the empowered committee is trying to resolve the farmers' demands, ambiguity looms large over the project as the Samiti farmers remain adamant that the ring road project must be constructed on 90 metres and refused to give 360 metres for it.
The JDA planned to construct road on 90 metres transport corridor and acquired 135 metres on either sides to develop it commercially. The idea has, however, not gone down well with the farmers. Under the banner of the Samiti they are demanding compensation at market price for 90 metres and return of excess land.
Also, for better benefits and compensation as per Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Act 2011 the farmers continue to oppose the project till the bill is enacted.