In exercise of the powers conferred by sub section 1 of section 3A of the National Highways Act

## Report on Amendment to National Highways Act, 1956 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, published on January 7, 2021. This notification constitutes an amendment to a previous notification (S.O. no. 1381E, dated 27.04.2020) issued under Section 3A of the National Highways Act, 1956, concerning land acquisition. The amendment appears to rectify details related to the nature of land being acquired in Sangrur district, Punjab, potentially impacting landowners in that region. The key finding is that the amendment modifies the land classification for specific survey numbers in multiple villages, likely influencing compensation or land use regulations. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide an informative overview of the notification S.O. 79(E), published on January 7, 2021, by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The notification amends a previous notification regarding land acquisition for national highway purposes, focusing on specific changes to land details. This analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notification. **3. Policy Overview:** * This notification is an **Amendment** to the original policy notification S.O. no. 1381(E) dated 27.04.2020. * **Core Objective(s):** The original policy's objective is land acquisition for National Highway development, as inferred from the mention of the National Highways Act, 1956. This amendment aims to *correct* or *clarify* the details related to acquired land. **4. Background and Rationale:** Since this is an amendment, the focus is on why the change is being made. The provided text suggests that discrepancies were found in the original land classification for specific parcels of land slated for acquisition. The amendment likely addresses inaccuracies in the initial notification (S.O. no. 1381(E)), potentially discovered through a report by the Competent Authority, Land Acquisition, to ensure correct land records and potentially influence fair compensation to landowners. The phrases "amendments in the above notification" and the modified schedule indicates a correction of data regarding the nature of the land. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This section details the changes introduced by the amendment. * **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** The "SCHEDULE" of the original notification S.O. no. 1381(E) dated 27.04.2020, specifically column 6 (Nature of Land) is being amended. * **New Rule/Provision:** The amended notification introduces changes to the land classification (Column 6) for specific survey numbers in the villages of Bourhai, Dalawargarh, DehleezKalan, and Kup, all located in Ahmedgarh Tehsil of Sangrur District. The amendment appears to shift the land type between "Agriculture", "Gair Mumkin" (unusable land) and Agriculture "Gair Mumkin". * **Difference/Effect of Change:** The changes primarily involve reclassifying land from "Agriculture" to "Gair Mumkin" or vice versa, or between the two categories of Agriculture-related land. This reclassification directly impacts the perceived value and use of the land, likely affecting the compensation offered to landowners and potentially impacting future land use regulations within the acquired area. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment are: * **Landowners** in the villages of Bourhai, Dalawargarh, DehleezKalan, and Kup within the Ahmedgarh Tehsil of Sangrur District, Punjab, specifically those whose land falls under the listed survey numbers. * **National Highway Authority of India (NHAI):** As it is referenced in the file number, NHAI has to be a stakeholder. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the responsible agency, acting based on the report of the "Competent Authority, Land Acquisition." The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is also likely involved in the acquisition process, as indicated by the file number "NHAIPIULDHExpwayDAKE13A Corr4". * **Timelines/Procedures:** The text does not specify explicit timelines or procedures related *specifically to the implementation of this amendment*. However, it implies that the Competent Authority has already assessed the land and provided a report. Therefore, the next step would involve updating land records and potentially reassessing compensation based on the revised land classifications. This likely triggers a process for notifying affected landowners about the changes. * **Implementation aspects specifically related to the changes:** The amendment necessitates a review of existing land acquisition plans, and potentially a recalculation of compensation amounts for the affected landowners. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of these specific changes is to rectify inaccuracies in land records related to the National Highway project. The changes could lead to: * **Fairer Compensation:** Reclassification to “Agriculture” might lead to higher compensation for the land owners, while reclassification to "Gair Mumkin" could lead to lower compensation. * **Accurate Land Records:** Ensuring the accuracy of land records related to the acquired land. * **Reduced Legal Challenges:** Correcting errors may prevent legal challenges from landowners disputing the land classification. * **Efficient Project Implementation:** Accurate land details can contribute to smoother project execution by avoiding disputes and ensuring proper land usage. **9. Conclusion:** The notification S.O. 79(E), dated January 7, 2021, represents an amendment to a previous land acquisition notification under the National Highways Act, 1956. This amendment focuses on rectifying land classification details for specific survey numbers in Sangrur district, Punjab. The changes are crucial for ensuring accurate land records, potentially affecting compensation to landowners, and contributing to the efficient implementation of the National Highway project. The accuracy of land records is vital for legal and financial reasons. This correction is thus a key step in responsible governance of land acquisition.

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