Farmers’ stir spreads to city

The Noida Extension fire has escalated to the city. Hundreds of farmers on Monday stormed the sites of key real estate players in Noida and stopped construction of about 20,000 units in multi-storey residential buildings.

The Noida Extension fire has escalated to the city. Hundreds of farmers on Monday stormed the sites of key real estate players in Noida and stopped construction of about 20,000 units in multi-storey residential buildings.

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Farmers are demanding 50% of their land’s market value as relief and 5% (of the land acquired) plots in developed sectors as promised by the Noida authority.

A team of officials rushed to the spot and sought one month time from farmers to address the issues. Efforts were being made to restart the projects, in which people of the NCR have invested money in pursuit of their dream homes.

The setback comes close on the heels of a high court order quashing a land acquisition notification in a Noida Extension village on May 12, resulting in the fate of over 10,000 houses hanging in the balance.

On Monday, farmers of Sorkha, Sarfabad, Jahidabad, Akrala and Salarpur reached the sites of Supertech, Unitech, Amraplai, Gardenia and some other builders in sectors 74, 75, 76, 78, 79, 117, 116 and 113 and stopped work. In some cases, work till the seventh floors have been completed.

Farmers said they had not been given the mandatory 5% plots since 2005, citing “abadi” land dispute.

Deep Chandra, administrative officer (AO) of Noida Authority, said, “Areas inhabited by people, and known as ‘abadi’ land, were kept out of the acquisition process. A huge number of claims (for rehabilitation and compensation) of owners of abadi land could not be settled as the clusters with construction for habitation prior to acquisition kept expanding illegally.”

“We’ve been trying to conduct surveys to find out the constructed area prior to acquisition. Villagers want to retain even those areas for which they get compensation,” the official said. He assured the farmers that the authority would hold special camps and allot the 5% plots.

“As for 50% of the market rate as compensation, we are apprising the government of the demand. Within three days, we will communicate the government’s response to the farmers,” Chandra said.

Farmers, apart from cash compensation, also get plots (5% of land acquired) in developed sectors through lottery and after payment of development charges as part of a rehabilitation plan.

Farmers who protested on Monday said there were more than 800 claims of 5% plots were pending from their areas.