In 2004, the ASI acquired around 100 acres of land at the prominent Harappan sites, where the ASI has its circle office. Following the acquisition order, the compensation was paid at the rate of Rs 0.65 paisa per square metre (sqm).Subsequently, nine landowners moved the district court in Bhachau Kachchh seeking higher compensation, which was granted in 2023. The higher rate of compensation allowed by the court was Rs 9.57 per sqm.As the ASI neither challenged the order nor paid the compensation, the land owners went to court again for early payment. As the payment was not made, the court issued an attachment order, arguably for the first time in the history of the Survey, on May 3.Later, the local ASI office wrote to the concerned special land acquisition of the district to seek his opinion to challenge the order, but received no reply.While the matter was under consideration at higher levels and with the Ministry of Culture, the ASI’s Rajkot Circle sought 25 days from the court, effectively halting the attachment proceedings.Earlier, sources said that the Integrated Finance Division (IFD) had already rejected the request for higher compensation because of the steep hike, and asked the ASI to take a legal opinion and fix responsibility for not challenging the order.
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