Previous governments in Uttar Pradesh did not favour development in Noida and Greater Noida which is why many firms migrated out of the state leaving no job opportunities for locals, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claimed on Wednesday.
The chief minister said this while meeting over two dozen farmers representing hundreds others from Jewar who have given their consent for the acquisition of their land for a proposed international greenfield airport in the region.
The farmers were accompanied BJP MLA from Jewar Dhirendra Singh for the meeting at Shastri Bhawan in Lucknow.
"Noida and Greater Noida were seen as areas of bad reputation by the previous governments. No industrialist wanted to set up their industry there out of panic. Several businesses migrated to Gurgaon in Haryana.
"A big project like Maruti car, which could have provided work to thousands of locals, slipped away from Noida-Greater Noida," Adityanath was quoted as saying in a statement.
"Understand the true meaning of development and think about how we can improve our living standards, how to realise the dreams of our young children and keeping positive thinking, how to become a partner in the development of this region and become a stakeholder in the growth story," Adityanath told the farmers.
During the meeting which continued for around 40 minutes, the villagers handed over to the chief minister their consent letters for the land acquisition for building the airport.
According to the statement issued by the Jewar MLA, the farmers told the CM, "We have given our land on your call and for the development of the region. Neither have we brought any letter of demands nor are we demanding something from you right now, but it is of course that you will safeguard the interests of farmers and ensure their proper rehabilitation and resettlement."