Farmers stage massive protest outside Gr Noida Authority

Greater Noida: Just a day after the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) said that they have started allotment of developed land to farmers, scores of agitated farmers on Tuesday morning staged a massive protest outside the authority's office to press for their demand against the delay by the state government in providing the 64 per cent compensation and allotment of 10 per cent developed plots in lieu of their acquired land.

The protest at the authority was led by the farmers' leader Manvir Bhati. The visitors and officers at the GNIDA offices faced a harrowing time for more than two hours, until the protest was quelled by police including SSP Love Kumar. Huge police force was deployed at the spot in order to bring the situation under control.

Amid heavy police presence, the protesters shouted slogans against the authority.

"The authority is not serious in making the payments to farmers and is also delaying the payment of 64 per cent. As per high court's orders, the farmers should get the allotment of 10 per cent developed land against their acquired land, then why the authority is trying to highlight their good work on the name of providing 6 per cent developed plots," alleged Bhati.

The agitators have been protesting outside the office of Greater Noida authority since past one year.

Later, GNIDA officers invited them for talks and assured them that their payments would be made soon.

"Following the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's orders to take farmer's issues seriously, we have already started the allotment of developed plots to the farmers and are taking their issues on top priority. We request them to provide few days' time to study their issues and then discuss them with the state government. By the time we request them to not to lead any such protest," said a senior authority official.

According to other farmers' leaders present during the protest, the farmers' demands include allotment of 10 per cent developed (abadi) plots in lieu of their acquired land, future security, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 and also the leaseback policy of 'abadi' land by the state government which was passed by the board of Greater Noida Authority in January 2013.

Meanwhile, a group of home buyers from various delayed residential projects of Amrapali Builder's group, across the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida, on Tuesday met the Minister of Industries Satish Mahana and demanded action against the builder for failing the promises and delivery of flats even after years of wait. The home buyers meeting was led under the banner of Noida Extension Flat Owner's Welfare Assoiation (NEFOWA).

"Strict actions will be taken against the defaulting builder upon the report given by the team" said Indrish Gupta, Co-Founder, NEFOWA.