Compensation to displaced farmers in Noida inadequate: Senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan

NEW DELHI: Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan told the Supreme Court Wednesday that compensation paid to farmers displaced by illegal acquisitions of land by the Noida and Greater Noida Authorities to build residential projects had been inadequate and that the court should review the matter.

The Allahabad High Court had quashed acquisitions in the three villages of Yusf Chak Shahberi, Asdullapur and Devla as these plots had not been developed and no third party rights had been created. It ordered higher compensation in all the other villages. Farmer in villages such as Suthyana and other areas not developed are demanding a release on the same grounds. Increased compensation could mean builders passing on the extra charge to apartment owners in Sectors 1, 2, 3, 10, Ecotech III and Tech Zone IV in Greater Noida. Prime sectors in Noida could also be affected, such as Sectors 55, 115 and 116.

Dhavan sought compensation at the market rate for displaced farmers who had lost their homes and livelihoods. The alternative was for the court to release the land that’s not developed and where third-party rights have not been created back to the farmers so that they could co-exist with the new occupants.