Mansarovar housing project: Farmers demand more compensation from LDA for their land
Farmers, whose lands have been acquired by the LDA for the Mansarovar housing project at Kanpur road, are demanding more compensation from the development authority.
Published on: Mar 14, 2018, 14:16:16 IST
Hindustan Times, Lucknow | By Pawan Dixit, Lucknow
Farmers, whose lands have been acquired by the LDA for the Mansarovar housing project at Kanpur road, are demanding more compensation from the development authority. They are staging protest at the project site since last two days demanding more compensation for the land acquired.
The farmers are paid the compensation at the rate of around ₹3 to ₹3.5 per sq feet. But now, they are demanding the compensation at the rate of ₹14 per sq feet. (AFP File Photo)
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The LDA had acquired land from 23 villages in several phases between 1976 and 1987 for the housing project. However, the construction activity started in 2016. Around 60 to 70 percent of the project has been completed.
At present, the farmers are paid the compensation at the rate of around ₹3 to ₹3.5 per sq feet. But now, they are demanding the compensation at the rate of ₹14 per sq feet.
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In the recent past, farmers have staged several demonstrations at the LDA office in Gomti Nagar demanding more compensation. However, all efforts of the agitators to take up the issue with the LDA vice-chairman were unsuccessful till date.
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In the recent past, farmers have staged several demonstrations at the LDA office in Gomti Nagar demanding more compensation. However, all efforts of the agitators to take up the issue with the LDA vice-chairman were unsuccessful till date.
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Under the banner of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) ‘Awadh’, farmers are staging the agitation against the development authority. “Farmers have been cheated by successive state governments. We are demanding more compensation for our land,” said Ram Khelawan Lodhi, vice-president, BKU ‘Awadh’.
“On March 18 last, the LDA had agreed to pay the compensation at a rate of ₹10.50 sq feet. However, after formation of the BJP government, the issue has not been included in the LDA’s board meeting,” said Lodhi.
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At the time of acquiring land, the state government had also promised government job to one of the family members of the farmer whose land has been acquired. But till date, the promise has not been fulfilled.
“Farmers have been adequately paid compensation. Their demand is unjustified. Construction at the site is on without any hindrance,” said a senior LDA official.
Pawan Dixit, Assistant Editor, brings over 20 years of frontline reporting experience to the newsroom. A specialist on Uttar Pradesh politics and governance, he has reported from the ground across the state’s most consequential stories. He cut his teeth in eastern UP, spending 15 years covering the region. Based in Varanasi, he reported the 2012 UP Assembly polls and the 2014 Lok Sabha elections that reshaped the state’s political map. Moving to Lucknow in 2016, he has since led coverage of the 2017 and 2022 UP Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. His reporting tracks the BJP’s strategy, opposition moves, and voter sentiment across all 75 districts. Pawan has been a constant presence in Ayodhya since 2016. He reported the entire arc of the Ram Mandir movement — from the legal fight to the Supreme Court verdict, through temple construction, to the inauguration. He continues to track every development at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. On the state beat, he covers the BJP, the Industrial Development Department, and handles key outstation political assignments. He also reports major cases from the district court, Lucknow bench of the High Court, and the State Information Commission. Along with this, he also reports on NGT's important decisions related to UP. Known for sharp sourcing and clear analysis, Pawan connects politics, policy, infrastructure and faith — the forces driving UP today. He has reported developments in Ayodhya and Ram Mandir movement since 2016. The Supreme Court's Ram Mandir verdict, temple construction and the its opening have been reported by him.
He reports all developments in Ayodhya and Ram Mandir Trust.
He covers state BJP, Industrial development department, outstation political assignments, reports special cases from district court, high court and state information commission
