Noida Authority agrees to farmers' demands

Noida:  Giving in to demands of agitating farmers whose land has been acquired, Noida Authority today promised to give them five percent of the developed plots from next week and regularise ‘abadi’ or populated sections. Announcing this, Noida Chief Executive Officer Balwinder Kumar, however, said the issue of higher compensation sought by farmers has to be decided by the Uttar Pradesh Government. [caption id=“attachment_47814” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“A mahapanchayat of villages along the Expressway had yesterday set 5 August as deadline for return of the five percent land. Reuters”]  [/caption] Kumar, who visited Sorkha and Parthla villages, told the farmers that peripheral road will be constructed around the villages and all abadi land as existing today would be regularised. Regarding five percent developed land, Singh said letters will be issued to villagers from next week. A mahapanchayat of villages along the Expressway had yesterday set 5 August as deadline for return of the five percent developed land and threatened to stop construction work on housing projects if the authorities failed to meet their demands. The CEO promised to convey the farmers’ demand for higher compensation to the state government. Meanwhile, the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has issued notices to seven builders, asking them to return the land to the farmers in Shahberi village in line with the court orders. GNIDA had earlier issued notices to Shahberi farmers asking them to return the compensation amount so that the land could be given back to them. Though Authority officials had started measurement of the land, villagers had stopped them. Realty projects in Noida Extension which comes under GNIDA, including in Shahberi and Patwari villages, have come to a halt after the Allahabad High Court quashed land acquisition there. The Authority is now facing a flood of litigation against land acquisition. On the High Court order on Patwari village, the Authority has decided to move the Supreme Court, said Rama Raman, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Noida Authority. In Noida Extension, contractors and labourers held protest demonstration at crossing near Gaur City just across the Hindon Bridge. Farmers too staged protests and burnt effigies as additional police force were deployed in the area. Rapid Response Force team was keeping a vigil in Gejha village where farmers from over a dozen villages participated in a panchayat. The panchayat decided to hold an awareness march in villages and motivate farmers to move the court if the GNIDA did not accept the demands of hike in land compensation, five percent developed land and abadi land regularisation by 5 August. House buyers assembled at several crossings in Noida and tried to take out marches leading to traffic snarls but were soon dispersed by the police. “Nobody will be allowed to hold foot march and block the traffic flow,” SP (City) Anant Dev said. PTI