Communities displaced by the construction Jare Earth Dam in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State have urged the Federal Government to review the compensation approved for their houses and farmlands.
The communities, under the aegies of Jare Earth Dam Association, said in a letter to the government that they have been short-changed by the committee responsible for the payment.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained NAN was signed on behalf of the communities by Malam Dahiru Musa and Alhaji Rabi’u Ahmad.
The communities also requested the government to investigate the activities of the resettlement committee, alleging that some of those affected were either excluded or shortchanged in the exercise.
“No fewer than 200 persons have been deprived of their rightful compensation,” they alleged, adding that some of those affected received as low as N1,000.
The letter indicated that the highest beneficiary of the compensation received N654, 450.
The communities noted that some residents of Unguwar Magaji-Maikware and Gidan Tari were not captured while about 51 houses affected at Gidan Namata and Gidan Malam Danladi villages were also excluded.
They listed others not included in the payments to include those whose land was affected by road construction in Tamarke, Unguwar Magaji and Dusten Bori villages among others.
The association said it was unjust to use a law enacted in 1979 to determine the value of their houses, farms and economic trees for the compensation.
The project was awarded by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in 2005.
Already, the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, who is also the state Commissioner for Agriculture had visited the communities and pledged to forward their grievances to the federal government. (NAN)