HC Deb 03 July 1890 vol 346 cc659-60
MR. BRADLAUGH

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State is aware of the grievances under which certain chiefs of Bundelkund, Central India, are suffering in connection with the construction of the Indian Midland Railway; whether the Secretary to the Government of India, Public Courts Department, in Order No. 272, R. C, dated 7th of April, 1886, referring to this railway, said— The Government of India is willing to award compensation for such lands as were taken up from the several Durbars for a temporary purpose, and now occupied permanently; whether on the 12th of April, 1886, instructions were issued by the Political Agent in Bundelkund to the States of Orchha, Dultia, Khaniadana, and Sampthau, to make over certain specified lands "for permanent occupation" by the Indian Midland Railway, on the express understanding that "fall compensation will be given to everyone by the aforesaid company"; whether, when the time came for the settlement of the respective claims, Mr. Henvey, the Agent to the Governor General in Central India, declared that though the railway was for the time in the hands of a company, it should be considered a State Railway; whether Mr. Henvey's orders concluded in these words— I am pleased to rule, without the least hesitation, that no claims from any of the chiefs for compensation of any kind should be admitted; and whether he wilt call the attention of the Government of India to the engagements entered into in April 1886, with a view to the withdrawal of the order of Mr. Henvey, and to the payment of the compensation promised, a sum in all of more than five lakhs of rupees?

SIR J. GORST

No representations have been made to the Secretary of State by the chiefs of Bundelkund of any grievances in connection with the construction of the Indian Midland Railway. If such representations were made, they would, of course, be carefully inquired into and considered. The words of the Government of India referred to in paragraph 2 of the question are incorrectly quoted. They should be— The Government of India accept the principle of paying compensation for land which has up to dale been taken up temporarily under Class B. They did not refer to all land taken up; they had reference only to the State of Orchha.