The local people of Bagmati, Hariaun and Lalbandi in Sarlahi district staged a sit-in in front of the District Administration Office on Thursday, demanding the authorities to re-evaluate the compensation amount fixed by the Compensation Fixation Committee of the East-West Electric Railway.

The elected people’s representatives, including Mayor of Hariaun Municipality Ganesh Prasain, and local leaders of various political parties also took part in the sit-in protest.

The protesting locals claimed that the Compensation Fixation Committee fixed the land’s valuation based on the ‘going rate’ 40 years ago. They demanded the authorities concerned to re-evaluate the compensation amount and provide compensation to the locals who don’t have land ownership certificate but who have been tilling the land for years.

Following the sit-in, the agitators submitted a memorandum at the District Administration Office and warned of stringent protest if the authorities do not pay heed to their demands. They warned that they would obstruct the construction work of the under-construction railway.

A struggle committee formed to put pressure on the government to increase the compensation amount announced various protest programmes on Saturday. Dolraj Pandey, coordinator of the struggle committee, said they would continue the sit-in on Friday as well.

The Compensation Fixation Committee has fixed Rs 250,000 to Rs 3 million for a kattha of land in Nawalpur, Rs 300,000 to Rs 1 million per Kattha in Hariaun, and Rs 250,000 to Rs 1.2 million per Kattha in Bagmati. Landowners claimed the compensation amount is four times less than the current value of land.

The first phase of the construction work of the 108km Bardibas-Simara railway track is underway. The railway project is part of the national pride project.