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Land dispute: Farmers of five more villages to protest
After the recent protests by farmers of Ullawas, Behrampur and Ghatta, farmers of five more villages have planned to hold a massive protest across the state as the plots acquired from them have been transferred to a private company for a special economic zone (SEZ). Dhananjay Jha reports.
After the recent protests by farmers of Ullawas, Behrampur and Ghatta, farmers of five more villages have planned to hold a massive protest across the state as the plots acquired from them have been transferred to a private company for a special economic zone (SEZ).
Farmers of villages Garoli Khurd, Mohammadpur, Narsinghpur, Khandsa and Harsaru held a panchayat on Sunday. They will organise a mahapanchayat on August 28.
The farmers claimed that they did not want to sell their 1,715 acres of land, but the government forced them to do so in the name of floating an industrial township by the Haryana State Industries and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC). The corporation has now transferred the land to RIL.
Representatives of all five villages have expressed their solidarity in fighting this six-year-long battle with the government. The farmers, whose 1,715 acres of land was acquired by the government in 2006, have decided to hold peaceful protests and panchayats across Haryana.
Farmers from other villages are also likely to participate in the August 28 mahapanchayat. A 15-member committee has been formed to support the issues raised by them. It will organise meetings and discuss the issues with government representatives and administration, if needed.
“We will not compromise. We want our land back,” said Nathu Singh, vice-president of the committee.
“We will go to Ullawas, Behrampur, Badshahpur and villages in other districts. We will do all to make the mahapanchayat a success. We may take financial help from the public,” said Yashbir Singh, president of the committee.
Farmers fear that their plots may turn barren as cultivation is not being carried out on them. Meanwhile, the RIL officials said SEZ work on some plots has started and structures are being erected for the IT and IT-enabled companies.
