GURGAON: Villagers objecting to the acquisition of 700 acres of land in Gurgaon by the state government last December were on Thursday assured that they would be compensated according to provisions of the new Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013. The new law came into force on January 1, 2014.

The villagers had objected after the government served them land procurement notices last year under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

HUDA administrator P C Meena on Thursday said land owners’ rights would be protected even if the notifications were issued under the old Act.

Though the process of land acquisition for various infrastructure projects such as roads, Metro station, storm water channel, public utilities, colleges, hospitals among others, procurement notifications were issued only last November and December.

“These notifications will in no way jeopardize the interests of the farmers and land owners since the award for compensation is to be announced after January 1 this year,” said Meena.

Landowners will also get benefits as stipulated under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in the new Act.

“The rehabilitation and resettlement package mentioned in the new Act would also be made available to the land owners even though the notifications were issued under the old Act,” said Meena.