Greater Noida: UP govt to discuss issues pertaining to land acquisition for Jewar airport

Industrial development commissioner, Anup Chandra Pandey, has called a meeting of officials of the Yamuna Expressway Authority, which is the nodal agency for development of this ambitious project.

The Uttar Pradesh government is scheduled to discuss issues pertaining to land acquisition for the ‘Noida International airport’ proposed at Jewar along the 165 km Yamuna Expressway on October 25 in Lucknow.

YEIDA is awaiting funds of Rs2,000 crore from the state government to acquire 1,000 hectares of agricultural land, in the initial phase of the project. (Burhaan Kinu/Representative Photo)

Industrial development commissioner (IDC), Anup Chandra Pandey, has called a meeting of officials of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), which is the nodal agency for development of this ambitious project.

Since the UP government wants to start land procurement for this project at the earliest, issues related to land have to be discussed in detail before the work begins on the ground, officials said.

The Union civil aviation ministry had on June 24 given its approval to build an international airport at Jewar. Now, YEIDA is awaiting funds of Rs2,000 crore from the state government to acquire 1,000 hectares of agricultural land, in the initial phase of the project. On the whole, the project requires 5,000 hectares.

YEIDA officials are studying details pertaining to the land notified for the project along the expressway.

Acquiring land by implementing the provisions of the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, will be a challenge for YEIDA because it comprises a lengthy process, officials said.

However, if landowners are ready to sell their land for the project, the YEIDA can easily purchase the same by negotiating the price and not wasting time in the process, officials said.

“We will review how much land of the 5,000 hectares is already owned by the government, the area owned by farmers, who are engaged in agricultural activities. We will discuss the land acquisition issue with farmers before going ahead with the procurement process. If farmers agree, YEIDA will fix a rate and then start registration of the land. But all these issues need deliberations,” a YEIDA official said.

According to officials, the UP government wants to expedite the formalities so that the work can be started at the earliest. “Some farmers can oppose the land acquisition due to land rates. To resolve issues of such farmers, the state government wants to be ready in advance so that land acquisition does not delay this project,” an official said.