In a ray of hope for 20,000 aspirants for flats in Noida Extension, Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority on Saturday struck a deal with farmers of Patwari village under which the peasants will withdraw the case in the Allahabad High Court that had quashed land acquisition in the area.
As part of the deal on land compensation and other issues, Patwari farmers will move the court to withdraw the court case. Land acquisition in Patwari was quashed by the Allahabad High Court on July 26.
The court, after a review petition had referred the cases to larger bench as interests of several stakeholders were involved.
However, the court had allowed authorities to negotiate with farmers and reach an out-of-court settlement by August 12
Gautam Budh Nagar MP Surinder Singh Nagar said that as per agreement, farmers will get compensation at Rs1400 per square meter, which means they will get an additional compensation of Rs550 per square meter as they had already taken the compensation at Rs850 per square meter when the land was acquired from them.
Further, farmers will get an additional 2 per cent of developed land. As per policy, they were entitled to 6 per cent developed land and now it will be 8 per cent, Nagar said.
Under the agreement, the developed land will be given in sector having 12 meter wide roads, said Nagar. Regarding abadi land (farmers' settlement), GNIDA agreed to leave the abadi as they exist today out of land acquisition and no back lease need to be done for this, he added.
Further, under the agreement, 10 per cent seats for farmers' children will be reserved in all schools and colleges to be set up on their land, Nagar said: "It will be binding on all such institutions".
Village development funds would be increased and more schools set up in villages. Concrete roads, sewer network and other infrastructure would be developed at par with the sectors, said Nagar.
He said henceforth the same deal will be struck with other villages. "For Shahberi village, we plan to hold separate negotiations later," said Nagar.
Today's negotiations with farmers were held in the presence of UP Minister Jaiveer Singh and Greater Noida Chairman Mohinder Singh. Noida extension flat buyers felt relieved on hearing the news about the deal between GNIDA and Patwari farmers.
“Now, I will be able to get my dream home,” said Shilpi Sharma one of the investors in the flats.
Builders also gave the investors good news by announcing that they will not put additional burden on the buyers.
However, ‘we will hike the rates for future allotments,’ said Anil Sharma of Amrapalli Group.
There were, however, voices of discontent among several farmers from other villages who claimed the authorities got the deal struck by threatening or giving benefits to some farmers' committee members, a charge denied by GNIDA officials who claimed all negotiations were accepted by farmers voluntarily as the terms were favourable to them.