The family reportedly received Rs 60 lakh as compensation for the land and house.

Ten Feet a Day: A Barnala Family’s Race to Save Their Home from the Bharatmala Project

In an unusual move, a farmer family from Sandhu Kalan village is shifting their entire double-storey house 300 feet away to save it from being demolished for the Bharatmala highway project. The 33x44-foot structure was constructed in 2017. It is being moved using specialised hydraulic jacks at a pace of 8 to 10 feet daily.

The owner, Sukhpreet Singh, said that while they surrendered five kanals and 12 marlas of agricultural land for the road project, they were determined to save their home.

Following a protest where family members climbed a high-voltage electricity tower, the administration assured them of compensation and time to relocate the structure. The family reportedly received Rs 60 lakh as compensation for the land and house.

To execute the move, a specialised contractor from Moga was hired at a cost of Rs 10.36 lakh, though total expenditures are expected to rise. The house, which includes five rooms, two lobbies, a kitchen, and two bathrooms, has already been moved over 100 feet in nearly a month. The family noted that a written agreement ensures the contractor bears any costs if damage occurs. 

This remarkable exercise has turned into a local attraction, with many residents visiting the site to witness the hydraulic shifting process in action.

Source: The Tribune