Uttar Pradesh today hit back at the Centre over land acquisition saying the compensation paid to farmers by the state was much higher compared to payouts for projects by the central government agencies.
The Mayawati regime was rattled by media glare surrounding the recent clash in Greater Noida between farmers and UP Police over land compensation. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had reached Bhatta-Parsaul village in Greater Noida of Gautam Budh Nagar district to lend his support much to the dismay of the state government.
In its counterattack, UP has compared land compensation rates offered by it in Greater Noida, Agra and Ghaziabad with that of the central projects in Rae Bareli and Agra.
An official press communiqué here said UP was paying farmers at the rate of Rs 44 lakh/acre, Rs 36 lakh/acre and Rs 22-35 lakh/acre for land acquired by Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway Authority respectively.
It said the government had adequately increased the compensation rates over the years. In 2006-07, compensation offered in Noida was Rs 20 lakh/acre, which had risen to Rs 44 lakh in five years.
In contrast, the rates offered by the Railways ministry for setting up the Rail Coach Factory at Dalmau, Rae Bareli ranged from Rs 2.9-4.35 lakh/acre. The rates were even lower in Lalganj tehsil, below Rs 3.7 lakh/acre.
According to UP, the rates were Rs 24 lakh/acre in Agra for Yamuna Expressway, while National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had paid Rs 9.6-22 lakh/acre for broadening of National Highway (NH) 11 in Agra.
Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) had paid Rs 44 lakh/acre for land acquisition, while NHAI was paying Rs 32/acre for the construction of Eastern Peripheral Expressway.
The government claimed pro-industry policies, including sops and simplification of procedures had resulted in rising investment and industrialisation in UP spanning heavy, medium and small industry. Total investment during 2007-08 at Rs 4,917 crore increased to Rs 5,276 crore and Rs 11,195 crore during 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively.
On September 3, 2010, the state had announced a new policy for land acquisition and rehabilitation in the backdrop of farmers’ protest over Yamuna Expressway Project.
The policy promised sops to land owners, including equity share in the development projects hoping it would placate farmers and provide them financial security for future.
Under the policy, the government had made provision of Rs 20,000 annuity per year per acre to land owner for 33 years. The annuity would increase by Rs 600 every year.
If a farmer does not wish to avail of the annuity facility, he can seek a one-time compensation of Rs 2.40 lakh per acre.
