The quashing of the “forced acquisition” of 156 hectares of land in Shahberi village has jeopardised 6,500 houses being built by key real estate players.
Now, hundreds of farmers in the neighbouring village of Bisrakh, where more than a dozen builders have planned or launched their projects, have moved court, seeking quashing of land acquisition.
Bisrakh has caused worries to the builders and the Greater Noida Authority as about 50,000 houses are planned in the village. In 2008, the Greater Noida Authority had acquired 608 hectares of land in Bisrakh.
Farmer leader Manveer Bhati said, “In May, 21 farmers moved court. They sought quashing of 30 hectares of land. They have obtained a stay order. Early this month, 110 farmers had moved court, seeking the acquisition of 40 hectares of land. The petition will be heard on July 21. Even on Friday, 250 farmers left for Allahabad to file petitions in the high court.”
The court is hearing the petitions separately. The petitioners say the land in these cases was acquired using the urgency clause of the Land Acquisition Act — something held illegal by the court and used as a ground to quash the land acquisition in Shahberi.
The petitions also say the land use was changed to suit private builders. Unlike Shahberi, where 85% farmers had not accepted compensation, half of the 500 affected families had accepted compensation in Bisrakh.
{{/usCountry}}The petitions also say the land use was changed to suit private builders. Unlike Shahberi, where 85% farmers had not accepted compensation, half of the 500 affected families had accepted compensation in Bisrakh.
{{/usCountry}}But they are ready to pay it back for their land. They say they were forced to accept compensation. The outcome of these cases will decide the fate of Noida Extension, where 2,000 acres of land has been acquired from farmers and allotted to builders for the construction of luxury houses.