Greater compensation is not the only demand farmers in the region have been up in arms for. Apart from cash compensation, the authority is also supposed to give 5% (now 7%) of the total land acquired, in developed areas. On May 16, hundreds of farmers stormed builders’ construction sites in Noida and stopped work on more than 20,000 dwelling units because they had not been given the 5% of plots.
Farmer leader Naresh Yadav said, "In our region alone, there are more than 800 claims of the 5% plots pending since 2005." The authority claims it has fast-tracked the process of solving abadi land (habitation area) disputes with villagers.
"This will pave way for long-pending compensation in form of developed plots to farmers whose agricultural fields have been acquired by the authority," said a senior official. Solving of habitation area disputes will also allow the authority to undertake first-ever development works and regularise illegal colonies.
What is termed habitation area by farmers is referred to as encroachment by the authority. Deep Chand, administrative officer 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 could not let go of the entire encroached area and it remained disputed."
"We have been trying to conduct surveys to figure out the actual constructed area prior to acquisition. Villagers want to retain even those areas for which they get compensation," he said. He assured the farmers that the authority would hold special camps and allot the 5% plots.
{{/usCountry}}"We have been trying to conduct surveys to figure out the actual constructed area prior to acquisition. Villagers want to retain even those areas for which they get compensation," he said. He assured the farmers that the authority would hold special camps and allot the 5% plots.
{{/usCountry}}But solving this dispute has not been easy with villagers often attacking authority employees trying to figure out how much constructed area existed prior to acquisition. On May 21, two authority employees, Sunil Kumar and Lala Ram, were attacked by residents of Sadarpur village when they tried to take measurement of land under unauthorised occupation there.
"The process of settlement has expedited. Farmers are being allowed to retain habited portions verified by satellite images or decided through talks and negotiations and are being given 5% of their fields, acquired years ago, in developed sectors," said Noida CEO Rama Raman.