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Realtors, buyers happy, farmers say fight not over
While buyers and builders welcomed the “positive step” towards resumption of stuck housing projects in Noida Extension, farmers looked disappointed and said they would keep fighting to get their land back and oppose any approval to the master plan.
While buyers and builders welcomed the “positive step” towards resumption of stuck housing projects in Noida Extension, farmers looked disappointed and said they would keep fighting to get their land back and oppose any approval to the master plan.
A statutory committee of the NCR planning board on Thursday cleared Greater Noida's master plan and sent it to the board for consideration. Clearance of the plan will revive stuck housing projects in Noida Extension.
Abhishek Kumar, president of a buyers’ group, said, “We have been fighting for the approval. It’s a welcome move. Let’s hope the nod comes soon and the ordeal ends.” Buyers have been paying rentals and bank EMIs without any construction taking place for the last eight months.
Real estate companies have echoed the similar views. Anil Sharma of Amrapali Group said, “We hope to start construction very soon. The approval will also help farmers. As projects are stuck and there are no fresh bookings, builders cannot fund the authority thousands of crores of rupeesed for hiked cash relief to farmers as ordered by the court.”
RK Arora of realty firm Supertech said, “We can finally sense the Noida Extension impasse will lift. Homebuyers will get their dream houses. Farmers will also get their due. Since all construction activities are halted, farmland cannot be developed by putting in place facilities such as roads, sewer lines, drinking water and power supply. This has halted allotment of share of developed land to farmers as ordered by the court.”
However, farmers have expressed displeasure over the development. Manvir Bhati, spokesperson of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (KSS), an umbrella body of farmers, said, “We don’t want hiked cash. Nor do we want share in developed land. We have already moved the Supreme Court seeking our land back. So we’re not bothered about the master plan’s approval. Land acquired forcibly for industrial development cannot be used for realty projects.”
