After Haryana, Punjab faces farmers' anger on land acquisition

CHANDIGARH: After Haryana, it is now farmers in Punjab's Mansa district who are protesting against "forcible" land acquisition for an upcoming thermal power project in the state.

Despite state government's claims that 95 per cent land owners have accepted compensation, agitating farmers are protesting against the land acquisition, resulting in the arrest of over 400 protesting farming families in the last one week.

Punjab government is acquiring 880 acres of land for setting up a 540 MW thermal power project, which is to be developed by private company Indiabulls under its new power purchase policy.

However, out of 880 acres of land, farmers owning 171 acres of land have objected to acquisition process by the state government.

"Farmers who own 171 acres of land in Gobindpura village do not want to part with land at any cost. They want to keep the land with themselves for their earnings. That is why we have not even accepted the compensation cheque offered by the state government," Kisan Sangharsh Samiti President, Satnam Singh said today.

The Samiti is supporting farmers in their agitation against the land acquisition.

However, Punjab government has termed the agitation by the farmers as politically motivated one.

"97 per cent of farmers have happily accepted the compensation of Rs 30 lakh per acre. It is only 2-3 families which are resisting the land acquisition process," Punjab, Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Badal said earlier this week.