Noida farmers cry foul: Still to get land compensation

These farmers alleged that distribution of land and additional compensation was being fast-tracked for some villages while many were being left out.

At a mahapanchayat in Hoshiarpur village in Noida on Saturday,farmer leaders of 54 villages expressed disappointment over the developments,alleging that the promised developed plots or enhanced compensation had still not been handed to them.

What angered the farmers was news that the Greater Noida Authority had reached an agreement with six villages on these very issues.

Naresh Yadav,pradhan of Sorkha village,told Newsline,“The Authority had said that we would receive the compensation and developed plots by October 31. But nothing has been given to us. In Greater Noida,they are already benefiting from the Allahabad High Court order.”

Yadav said they planned to meet the new Noida Authority CEO,Jeevesh Nandan,on Tuesday and place their demands.

“We will ask him to speed up the process or we will not allow construction activity in the area. We will also ask the CEO to take action against officials who have been delaying the process,” Yadav said.

Officials of the Authority said that a response to the demands of the farmers would come after their meeting with the Noida CEO on Tuesday.

At the panchayat,the issue of appealing against the High Court decision was also discussed at length. While some were in favour of an appeal,others said that they would not move court if the Authority undertook development activity in the area.

Balraj Singh,of Sarfabad village said,“For a very long time,there has been no development work in the area. If the Authority can promise us that it will establish schools and colleges for our children,a sports stadium,good roads,ample water pumps and supply of electricity,then we will not appeal. It is not as if we are blackmailing them. We just want our due.”