Jewar Airport Project: Farmers Protest Against Land Compensation And Other Restoration Benefits

Farmers from six villages whose land is likely to be taken as part of Jewar's Noida International Airport project's second phase have begun protesting against the authorities.

The process of acquiring land for the second phase of the airport project will begin in January next year, according to district administration officials who were briefed on the development on Sunday, adding that the Uttar Pradesh government had already approved the new phase's social impact assessment report on December 17.

The Gautam Budh Nagar authorities plan to hold camps in villages starting January 7 to obtain farmers' approval for the land purchase.

Around 500 farmers met at a community center in Ranchera hamlet to organize a maha panchayat to prepare their agitation for Monday if their land rates are not enhanced in the second stage.

Last year, the state government handed over 1,334 hectares in Jewar to Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a 100% subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG that was formed as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to build Jewar airport.

"We oppose the technique used to determine land compensation and other rehabilitation benefits. As compensation for land, we demand four times the current circular rates, as well as additional incentives for housing land. In step one, the administration offered us compensation equal to two times the existing circular rate, which was in no way acceptable. We would not approve the acquisition of the property unless the administration offers us four times the circular rate," said KP Singh, a farmer from Ranhera village.

Farmers have stated that they will protest in the camps on January 7, as well as at other times in the future.

The government offers four times the existing circle rate in rural regions and two times the circle rate in urban areas, according to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act of 2013. The Uttar Pradesh government categorised these six villages as urban areas from rural in 2017, and 1,334 hectares of land were already purchased under stage one.

"Our biggest grievance is that our villages were included in urban areas despite the fact that it is a rural belt." It was all part of a plan to set low rates for our property and irritate the farmers. Farmers were duped in the first round, but now we won't allow it unless they provide us four times the circle rate," said Dinesh Kumar, a farmer from Nagla Hukum Singh village.

The second phase of the Jewar airport, the third runway, and commercial maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of aircraft centre, would be built on land from six villages: Karauli Bangar, Dayanatpur, Kureb, Ranhera, Mundhera, and Nagla Hukum Singh villages. MRO units safeguard an aircraft's serviceability by providing inspection and maintenance facilities. The government must transfer 1,363 hectares to the subsidiary close to the present airport site for the third runway and future development, according to the deal.

"Farmers have the right to seek more money for their land." However, the administration will assess the compensation rate in accordance with the Land Act of 2013. According to the guidelines, we would seek their approval starting January 7," said Balram Singh, assistant district magistrate (land acquisition), Gautam Budh Nagar.

On November 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lay the foundation stone for the Jewar airport. After the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) and the civilian terminal at Ghaziabad's Hindon airport, the greenfield project is expected to be India's largest and the third in the National Capital Region.

The first phase, which is expected to be completed shortly, involves developing two runway pavements, according to authorities. The project, which will be completed in four stages, is expected to be completed by September 29, 2024.