A farmer family in Punjab's Barnala has decided to physically shift their house that was all set to be demolished. A unique story of a farmer's family and their determination t o not gave up on their house has come to the fore. This is happening in Sandhu Kalan, located near the Bathinda district border.
According to information received, a portion of the family’s house came in the alignment of the Jaipur–Katra Greenfield Highway.
The house was constructed in 2017 at a cost of nearly Rs 75 lakh. However, during the planning and execution of the Bharatmala Road Project, around 100–150 feet of the house fell directly in the proposed highway route.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), along with the district administration, ordered the demolition of the structure to clear the way for the project.
Not only this, but administration officials had also reached the site to carry out demolition.
However, to save their home, members of the family climbed high-voltage electricity towers installed near the house. Due to the protest, the highway construction remained halted for nearly one-and-a-half months.
Then, the family began exploring alternative options. Through social media, they came across videos showing houses being shifted intact using hydraulic jacks.
Hence, they contacted a specialised team and decided to shift the entire house instead of demolishing it.
At present, a team of 10 labourers is using heavy jacks and railings to move the house sideways. According to the family, the structure needs to be shifted nearly 300 feet away from the road alignment.
So far, around 115 feet of the house has already been moved, at an average pace of 7 to 8 feet per day.
For the past three months, the family has been living in tents outside their home amid harsh winter conditions.
The process of physically shifting their house is said to be over Rs 10.5 lakh in labour expenses alone.
The family claims that while the house was built at a cost of Rs 70–75 lakh, they were given only Rs 60 lakh as compensation.
Sukhpreet Singh who is the owner of the house said that the family received a major shock in 2021 when they learned that their house would fall under the Bharatmala project.
Sukhpreet said, "We built this house with dreams and passion. We spent nearly Rs 70–75 lakh on it. We worked very hard, but no one listened. The compensation was also not fair."
Gurmel Singh who is helping the family in the house-shifting operation, said the structure had nearly 150 feet falling within the highway alignment.
"The family contacted us through Instagram. We signed a written agreement and started the work. So far, 115 feet has been shifted. The total labour cost is around Rs 10.36 lakh. It will take about three months to complete the process," said Gurmel.