Hi-tech city: CPI urges Sonia to stop land acquisition

CPI National Secretary D Raja today met Congress President Sonia Gandhi to seek her intervention in stopping the acquisition of farmers' land for development of a hi-tech city in Haryana.

According to Raja, the land being acquired in some areas of Sonepat and Panipat was highly productive and the acquisition would affect around one lakh farmers.

The CPI leader said his party was not against the hi-tech city but it should not come up at the expense of farmers.

Haryana government could acquire less productive land in some other areas, he told the Congress president.

CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan had earlier this year written to Gandhi, saying, "Let the Haryana government build the hi-tech city in some other area causing least displacement. This marked area of Sonepat and Panipat districts should be spared".

Referring to the state government's argument that the area had abundant water and was located on the Grand Trunk road, Bardhan said this argument "rather supports the contention of the farmers that they are able to produce well because of better irrigation facilities, climate and good landscaping".

The CPI leader said building the city would benefit only the elite and displace farmers of the region.