Akhilesh says no land acquisition without farmers’ consent

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said no land acquisition would be done without the consent of farmers and cases lodged against them during the previous government would be withdrawn.

"SP in its election manifesto had said that land would not be taken without the consent of the farmers. If they do not permit, the SP government will not take any decision," Akhilesh said while inaugurating the 165-kilometre-long Yamuna Expressway between Agra and Noida developed by Jaypee Group at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore.

He said that prosperity and cooperation of the farmers was necessary. Stressing on the importance of good roads, he said, "we are heading forward with this approach. Arrangements will be made to connect the district headquarters and wherever it is feasible. Large scale development will take place if there are good roads," he said.

Alleging that the previous BSP regime lodged false cases against farmers, Yadav said all such cases would be withdrawn. Akhilesh requested commuters not to exceed the 100km speed mark on the new expressway.
He said that while the expressway has been completed some work was still to be done.

"Service lane is not constructed properly and it should be completed at the earliest. Facility of hospitals and schools has to be given and development of villages should also take place," he said.

The CM said neither Noida-Greater Noida road would be included in the expressway nor any toll would be realised.

"Previous government included Noida-Greater Noida road in the expressway and even levied toll, but it would not be included and even company people agree with that," he said.

Akhilesh said that SP government was not in favour of Ganga Expressway and no work would be done on it.

He said that Bundelkhand and Poorvanchal regions should also get connected with expressways so that development can be done there.

SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, present on the occasion, asked the concerned company to provide parallel service roads to the adjoining villages so that the villagers have toll free access from one village to another through the service roads.