GNIDA says it has no authority to increase compensation for farmers

Greater Noida: In the wake of the controversy over land acquisition, Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has said it has no powers to hike land compensation and if the farmers give a proposal it will be sent to state government for approval. “This will have to be decided by the state government. After farmers give concrete proposal mentioning the amount we will forward it to state government for approval,” GNIDA Chief Executive Officer Raman Singh told reporters here yesterday. [caption id=“attachment_49809” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Farmers protesting in UP. Reuters.”]  [/caption] Regarding low compensation complaints by farmers Singh said, “Greater Noida land compensation rates were best in the country. However due to inflation and rise in prices this compensation appears to be low now.” Without naming anybody Singh said some persons are only taking “political advantage” of the land acquisition issue. “We hope to have fruitful negotiations with farmers individually. We have started the process from Patwari and later include other villages too,” he said. Referring to the allegations by farmers that their ‘abadi’ (populated land) was taken by the GNIDA, Singh said, “In 90 percent of the court cases grievance was abadi land. We are planning to simplify the back-lease of abadi land cases.” Regarding the accusation that the land which was to be used for setting up industrial units are being used for building residential complex, Raman said, “Planned industrial development included residential and commercial activity too.” PTI