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• Even as the district administration has stated that they would talk to the government to get the amount of compensation increased, farmers of 24 villages of Ambala district continued their dharna on Monday demanding more compensation for the land acquired for laying of a pipeline by Gas Authority of India (GAIL).Initially, the GAIL authorities had fixed Rs 98 per square metre as compensation, but now the district administration has agreed to get the amount increased to Rs 200 per square metre. However the farmers are demanding a compensation of Rs 550 per square metre for their land.
• With a view to come to decision on a figure acceptable to both the parties, deputy commissioner Shekhar Vidyarthi has convened a meeting between the farmers and functionaries of GAIL on Tuesday.Till a few weeks ago, GAIL was paying Rs 98 per square metre to farmers in lieu of the land acquired for the project where the gas pipeline is being laid in around 44 km area of Ambala district.GAIL officials had declared to increase the compensation to Rs 150 after farmers disrupted the project work as a mark of protest. Now the district administration has intervened in the matter and assured to get the amount increased.DC Shekhar Vidyarthi said, "We hope that we would be able to find a solution to the dispute between GAIL and the farmers at the meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday."Gurcharn Singh, who is leading the agitation said, "We have been demanding Rs 550 per square metre. We can come down to Rs 500, but an amount less than this figure is not acceptable to us."

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