Under attack, govt lifts urgency clause

With courts terming land acquisition using urgency clauses of the Land Acquisition Act illegal, the state government has made a U-turn.

With courts terming land acquisition using urgency clauses of the Land Acquisition Act illegal, the state government has made a U-turn.

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The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has lifted urgency clauses imposed in 29 villages.

The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has also decided not to clamp urgency clauses in nine villages. GNIDA had obtained permission from the state government to use urgency clauses in nine villages.

Urgency clauses of the Land Acquisition Act allow the government to acquire land from farmers without hearing their objections. "These clauses are meant to be put to use in case of projects of public good but the development authorities here have been using the tool to forcibly acquire land and allot to private builders," said farmer leader Roopesh Verma.

YEIDA had imposed urgency clauses in 25 villages of Jevar tehsil in Gautam Buddh Nagar district and 4 of Bulandshahar district. In these very villages, the government had proposed Yamuna City in 4,500 acres off the Noida-Agra Yamuna Expressway. Uncertain of the fate of the land, the builder has already stopped installments to the Yamuna Expressway authority.

Confirming the decision to lift the clauses, a senior official told Hindustan Times, "YEIDA will now acquire land in these villages under the new acquisition policy after hearing objections from farmers."