Though Jagpal Singh, who owns some five acres of agricultural land in Manak Tabra, is not a big farmer like Karam Singh, he is content with the money he gets by selling his farm produce and milk. “Though we were initially euphoric, as prices of our land had jumped from Rs 4-5 lakh per acre to Rs 20-25 lakh per acre after Nano City was announced, we are not willing to part with our land now,” he says.

However, Nanocity Developers Limited director Naval Bhatia, when contacted, said they have finalised the sale deeds and would soon have 500 acres. “The process of buying the required 11,000 acres will take four to five years. We will start from Manak Tabra that is right in the middle of the master plan and extend on both sides gradually. Infrastructure such as roads and educational institutions would be developed first,” he says.

However, the Samiti asserts that villagers have sold not a single acre to Bhatia so far and no registration of land sale has taken place in the name of the company in the tehsil. “We have been assured by the Chief Minister that there will be no forceful acquisition for Nano City. But if that happens, we will agitate against it. Representatives of some farmer welfare organisations in Delhi had come here to assure us of their support,” says Karam Singh, while denying that the farmers’ unity is aimed at getting a better deal from the company. “Even if the developers offer double of what they are offering — Rs 20-22 lakh per acre — we will not sell our land,” he asserts.

... contd.