Following the call by three farmer organisations to march to the Parliament, hundreds of farmers of Noida and Greater Noida from around 140 villages in the state came together to protest against the Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Authority, and the Uttar Pradesh government, for allegedly not accepting their demands related to compensation for their land.
Though the farmers had planned to walk up to the Parliament in the Capital, they were stopped by Noida Police at Dalit Prerana Sthal. Following talks with the police and representatives of the Gautam Budha Nagar administration, the stir, which started around 1 pm, was called off after around six hours even as farmers said they will continue their protest at their respective places in Noida and Greater Noida.
Among assurances given to the farmers were formation of a high-powered committee to look into their issues, and a meeting with the police commissioner later in the day.
“A high-powered committee has been formed, where all the farmer issues related to Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Authority will be discussed in detail,” Sukhbir Khalifa of Bharatiya Kisan Parishad, one of the organisations leading the protest, said. The other organisations were Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Sangathan and Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha. The committee would comprise an MP, an MLA, CEOs of all three authorities, NTPC CMD, and the Industrial Development minister.
On the meeting with the police commissioner, Rupesh Verma, district president of Kisan Sabha, said, “The meeting has completely failed and remained inconclusive. In the end, it was decided that another round of meetings with CEOs of three authorities will be held.”
The protest also created a huge traffic jam in the city, especially on the roads leading to Delhi with the police installing barriers at all the borders connecting Noida with the Capital.
‘Not left with any land’
Subodh Yadav, 34, who joined the protest, said his 12 bigha land, which was in his father’s name, was acquired in 2013 by the Greater Noida Authority, which gave him a 6% developed plot as compensation.
“It has been around seven years since we have been fighting but we are yet to get the additional 4% plot. Hum kisi se kuchh maang nahi rahe hain, ye hamara haq hai (We are not asking for anything, except what is rightfully ours). After fighting for years in court, they gave us an additional 64.7% compensation. On my land, Gaur city and Amrapali housing societies have been developed while we are here on the road,” said Yadav, a resident of Itaihda village.
Surender Kasana, 43, resident of Badauli village, said around 70 Bigha of land of his family, belonging to his father and three uncles, was acquired by the Noida Authority in 2007. However, he is yet to get additional compensation and 10% plot. “…Now, we do not have any land left. I have two children. How will I take care of them?” said Kasana.
A Noida authority official said the demands were discussed in previous meetings and were forwarded to the government.
“The board discussed both the major demands of the farmers, which is 10% developed plot and additional compensation, in its earlier meetings and the proposal has been forwarded to the UP government to take a final call…,” said the official.
