Shahberi to trigger chain reaction

Wednesday's land acquisition judgment by the Supreme Court may be limited to Shahberi village, but it has set a sense of uncertainty in entire Noida Extension area.

Wednesday's land acquisition judgment by the Supreme Court may be limited to Shahberi village, but it has set a sense of uncertainty in entire Noida Extension area.

HT Image

Farmers of other villages in Noida Extension have also moved court, saying their land was also acquired without their objections being taken care of.

While the order has affected about 10,000 houses in Shahberi village alone, 25 builders who are constructing a total of 2.5 lakh houses in Noida Extension area are fearing a similar fate.

Booking for around 1 lakh houses has already been done.

Buoyed by the apex court verdict, farmers have threatened to stop construction in various villages, including Bisrakh, Patwadi, Haibatpur, Shahberi and Roja, besides taking out a victory march on Thursday.

Manveer Bhati, a farmer leader, said, "We went to several real estate sites and asked workers to stop work on Wednesday. A number of farmers from these villages have moved the high court."

Bhati added that farmers would hold a mahapanchayat on Thursday and after that several others will knock the court's doors against forcible acquisition of land.

UP farmers celebrate

They were beaten up by the police and jailed — but they fought on for their land. For villagers of Chak Shahberi near Noida, not only their land, even their prestige has been restored. Former village head Rajpal Singh said, “The police damaged our standing crops and orchards. They didn't agree to wait.” Farmers here celebrated the Supreme Court judgment. “If we are given market rates, we have no problems in selling land directly to builders," said farmer Saroj Singh.

One Naushad Ali said, “Our objections were not heard. We were told land was being acquired for industrial development but allotment was made to private builders.”

darpan singh, noida