Farmers scale water tank in Ghb to demand land compensation

A group of farmers climbed atop a a water tank here to demand enhanced compensation for nearly 1,000 hectares of land acquired in 1964 to establish the Central Government Offices (CGO) complex.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) zonal president Rajbir Singh along with five other members climbed atop the tank situated inside CGO complex in Kamla Nehru Nagar, while scores of other farmers staged a protest.
The protesters came down only after they were given an assurance by Union minister and local MP Gen (retd) V K Singh's personal assistant S P Singh that a meeting will be fixed with Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu to resolve the issue.

About 966 hectares of land of four villages -- Razapur, Raispur, Harsaon and Sihani -- was acquired by the Centre for construction of a CGO complex in Ghaziabad in 1964 at the rate of .48 paisa per square yard but it was later raised to Rs 1.48 per square yard after protest by farmers.
After a prolonged battle, the Supreme Court in 2011 further enhanced the compensation rate to Rs 84 per sq yard.
Till date, the farmers claimed, they have been running from pillar to post to get the compensation.
"After assurance from the district administration, farmers have shifted their protest venue from overhead water tank to CGO complex grounds.

"We have met Naidu in the past but the stalemate could not be resolved. This time BKU will meet Prime Minster Narendra Modi to apprise him about the situation," BKU executive member Harendra Nehra said.