Tappal farmers want crop compensation

“The government has cheated us. Either they should give back our land or give us compensation for the crop. They cannot forcibly take back our land from us. Yesterday,officials of the district administration met us and informed that they would give crop compensation only to those who are ready to sign the agreement,” said Shashi Singh,former president of block development committee and a farmer leader.

“They told us that the state government has decided to move a clause under the new land acquisition policy,whereby they can start the project if owners of 80 per cent of land have signed the agreement,” Singh said.

Singh said about 250 families in Tappal have not yet signed any pact with the government. “During our talks with the district administration about two weeks back,they had agreed to give us compensation for our crop. But in a new move,they have decided to give compensation only if farmers sign the agreement with them.”

Out of about 500 hectares of land to be acquired for the Jaypee Group Township in Tappal area of Aligarh district,only about 70 hectares are left to be acquired from about 250 families,who have refused to sign the agreement with the government.

In the last one year,the state government had given compensation to these farmers two times for both rabi and kharif crops after they started ploughing their fields.

However,this time the government seems to be in no mood to give up and has decided to take over the remaining land as well because about 80 per cent of the land is already in its possession.

“Farmers have decided to call another panchayat after four days. If the government does not take any decision and decides to move ahead to take possession of the land,we will have to become aggressive,” said Singh.

A senior official said,“The notification for the land was given three years back. The farmers have been given compensation for their crop in the past. Talks are still on with farmers but they can’t be allowed to plough the land which the government has already notified.”