1,187 villages notified in six districts
Even as the brouhaha over land compensation for Yamuna Expressway Project reaches feverish pitch in Uttar Pradesh, the master plan for the development of almost 1,200 notified villages is still not ready.
A total of 1,187 villages in 6 districts viz. Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mahamaya Nagar (Hathras), Mathura and Agra had been notified under the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA).
In her written reply, Chief Minister Mayawati had informed the state Assembly recently that the Master Plan for the meticulous development of the notified villages was being prepared.
About 1,550 hectares of land will be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for Yamuna Expressway (erstwhile Taj Expressway) and toll plazas between Greater Noida and Agra.
It was also informed that YEIDA in association with concessionaire to the project Jaypee Infratech was neither in the process of developing any residential colonies or townships along the Expressway nor any land was being acquired for the said purpose.
The Mayawati government’s ambitious project has recently been in the eye of storm over vociferous protests by farmers in Agra, Mathura and Aligarh districts demanding land compensation at par with land owners in Noida and Greater Noida (Gautam Buddha Nagar).
Although, the state government had decided to hike the compensation in Aligarh by Rs 121 sq/mt to Rs 570 sq/mt, a section of farmers are still demanding ' 880 sq/mt paid to farmers in Noida. Now, the farmers in Agra have joined the chorus demanding hike in compensation rates.
In Aligarh, police cane charged agitated farmers recently and in the ensuing clash 4 persons were killed. Later, the state government shunted out senior administration officials. Ex-gratia of ' 10 lakh to the kin of those killed and ' 2 lakh to those injured had been announced.
Maximum 431 villages had been notified in Mathura, followed by Mahamaya Nagar (420), Gautam Buddha Nagar (131), Aligarh (105), Agra (60) and Bulandshahr (40).
Meanwhile, Mayawati has blamed the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre for the recent violence regarding land acquisition in UP and other states.
She noted that even after 63 years of independence, Congress had failed to amend the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, while the farmers continued to suffer.
The state government has constituted two committees to resolve land compensation issues. A committee would be constituted under the chairmanship of commissioner at division level having six members.
Another committee at state level has been constituted under the chairmanship of principal secretary (Home) Fateh Bahadur. principal secretaries
