HYDERABAD, Oct 30: A division bench of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad, on Thursday sought clarification from the deputy district officer, revenue, and land acquisition officer, Sinjhoro, regarding a report he had submitted in connection with a land acquisition case.

Five persons had filed the petition demanding compensation for their lands acquired for the Left Bank Outfall Drain project 10 years back.

The DDO and LAO in his statement said he conducted physical verification for initiating proceedings of the passage of award and it transpired that the area of land of the petitioners acquired for the project was very small than the area the petitioners were demanding compensation for.

He said he had approached the director, settlement survey and land records, for determining the utilized area but his report of remeasurement was still awaited. He said the proceedings would be finalized soon after the report was received.

The official sought time to complete the proceedings under land acquisition laws.

The petitioners said their lands were acquired for the LBOD project and the possession was taken over by the respondents in June 1992 without issuance of a notification under section 4 and 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and paying compensation for the lands.

They said the respondent superintending engineer, LBOD, Sanghar, had completed the project despite the respondent land acquisition officer had not completed land acquisition proceeding which was mandatory. They said the SE had not issued a notice under 9 of the 1894 LAA nor passed the award.

They said they had approached the LAO repeatedly for passing of the award but he had been replying that no funds were available to pay them the compensation.

The court ordered the Sanghar DCO to appear in person to give his explanation on the subject.