Greater Noida, Aug 1 (IANS) Talks between the farmers and the Greater Noida officials, as directed by the Allahabad High Court for an amicable resolution to the land acquisition row, failed to make any headway in absence of any assurance on enhanced compensation, farmers’ leaders said Monday.
Greater Noida authority CEO Rama Raman visited the Khairpur, Patwari and Roza-Yakubpur villages but the farmers were not receptive, bringing a complete halt to the process for an amicable solution.
‘During his three-day visit, the CEO assured the farmers about strengthening civic amenities in the villages. The CEO brought a video team with him to record his assurances to farmers of better services but he did not speak a single word about enhancement in compensation package,’ said Ranvir Nagar, headman of Sadullapur village and convener of Gramin Panchayat Morcha.
‘What for the CEO is touring the villages if he can not assure enhanced compensation, which is the root of the dispute? He is taking very minor issues in consideration leaving the major issue pending. Whenever he is asked to increase compensation, he shows his inability and says he has to wait for directions from Lucknow. Now farmers have decided to counter bureaucratic tactics in a better way since court is looking judiciously,’ he added.
‘The farmers have learnt a lot from the past experiences so the Gramin Panchayat Morcha has decided to prepare a charter of demands, get it signed from all farmers of the area and get it received with an authority seal and finally to be submitted before the Allahabad High Court as our rejoinder,’ said Inder Nagar, a petitioner from Patwari village and a member of the Morcha.
Ram Singh, Udal and Binnoo – the three original petitioners – termed the visit as bureaucratic tactics to befool the farmers and to mislead the high court as the officials had done in the past.
Earlier, the farmers of villages concerned signed the charter of demands in which they have stated that according to court instructions dated July 26, they want compensation at Rs.10,000 to Rs. 11,500 per square metre – the amount at which the authority sold off the land to builders after acquiring at the rate of Rs.850 per square metre.
The farmers, on whose land public roads have been constructed, should be compensated at the prevailing market rates, they said.
They also demanded 17 percent allotment of plots be regularised in commercial, industrial and other segments as it is prevailing in the residential segment. Where the quota is not being applied, such as on private projects, the farmers concerned should be compensated at prevailing market rates.
From the total acquired and developed land, at least 10 percent pooled land should be allocated to the farmers as it was being done till 1997.
They also sought de-notification of land acquired under government order dated April 24, 2010.
Also, employment to the farmers’ children be guaranteed at 20 percent in the industries and admission also be ensured at the same ratio to the farmers’ children in the upcoming educational institutes in the area, said the charter of demands.
