Greater Noida: Over 50% of villagers in Patwari take higher payout
However, the residents of this Noida Extension village, even those who had accepted the cheques, were refusing to withdraw their petitions in court.
By Vandana Keelor, TNN | Updated:
GREATER NOIDA: The Greater Noida authority raced against time to hand out higher compensation cheques to more than half of Patwari villagers before the Allahabad high court's deadline for reaching an out-of-court settlement with the farmers ended on Thursday night.
However, the residents of this Noida Extension village, even those who had accepted the cheques, were refusing to withdraw their petitions in court.
Last month, the court had acted on a single petition to reverse the land acquisition in the entire village. Other petitions by Patwari villagers are still pending. By doling out higher compensation to re-acquire the Patwari land, the authority hopes to set the tone for winning over the other 10 villages in the area.
But Patwari villagers seem to have other plans. Although more than 700 farmers had taken their cheques, their lawyer claimed they were yet willing to withdraw their petitions. "Why should the farmers withdraw their petitions?" asked Parmendra Bhati, the advocate for many Patwari farmers. "In fact, we are filing another 18 petitions on behalf of Patwari villagers in court on Friday."
The farmers claim that they cannot be forced to withdraw their petitions. "We will meet the authority in court on August 17 and let the court decide," said a farmer.
Said village head Reshpal Yadav, "I have not yet withdrawn my plea. We will see about it as GNIDA is not keeping its word as per the agreement."
Meanwhile, about 500 farmers of Patwari who have refused to collect their compensation cheques said the authority had repeatedly called them to come and collect the compensation cheques giving them time up to midnight of Thursday to sign and settle. "We are not willing to compromise and will wait for the HC's decision on August 17," said Kallu Singh Yadav, a farmer from this group.
After the August 6 pact between Patwari villagers and the authority, around 1400 farmers from Patwari were entitled to the hiked compensation. "The higher compensation has brought an additional burden of Rs 295 crore on the authority," said a senior Greater Noida Authority official. The authority is hopeful of getting individual agreements from a majority of the farmers which they would submit in court.
Meanwhile till Thursday, having chased a target of handing out almost 1,000 cheques to farmers of Patwari village, the authority is now gearing up to compile the data of all farmers who have accepted their hiked compensation, for presenting it to the HC on August 17, the next date of hearing.
Farmers of about a dozen other villages have moved court, seeking quashing of land acquisition. The court will hear all related matters on August 17 and decide on the fate of 70,000 houses booked in Haibatpur, Bisrakh, Itedha, Ghanghola, Devla and Roza-Yakoobpur. Around 2.25 lakh houses have been planned. If the Patwari pact holds, it will save 20,000 under-construction dwelling units in the Noida Extension-Greater Noida area which falls in 589 hectares of Patwari village land.
However, the residents of this Noida Extension village, even those who had accepted the cheques, were refusing to withdraw their petitions in court.
Last month, the court had acted on a single petition to reverse the land acquisition in the entire village. Other petitions by Patwari villagers are still pending. By doling out higher compensation to re-acquire the Patwari land, the authority hopes to set the tone for winning over the other 10 villages in the area.
But Patwari villagers seem to have other plans. Although more than 700 farmers had taken their cheques, their lawyer claimed they were yet willing to withdraw their petitions. "Why should the farmers withdraw their petitions?" asked Parmendra Bhati, the advocate for many Patwari farmers. "In fact, we are filing another 18 petitions on behalf of Patwari villagers in court on Friday."
The farmers claim that they cannot be forced to withdraw their petitions. "We will meet the authority in court on August 17 and let the court decide," said a farmer.
Said village head Reshpal Yadav, "I have not yet withdrawn my plea. We will see about it as GNIDA is not keeping its word as per the agreement."
ADVERTISEMENT
Meanwhile, about 500 farmers of Patwari who have refused to collect their compensation cheques said the authority had repeatedly called them to come and collect the compensation cheques giving them time up to midnight of Thursday to sign and settle. "We are not willing to compromise and will wait for the HC's decision on August 17," said Kallu Singh Yadav, a farmer from this group.
After the August 6 pact between Patwari villagers and the authority, around 1400 farmers from Patwari were entitled to the hiked compensation. "The higher compensation has brought an additional burden of Rs 295 crore on the authority," said a senior Greater Noida Authority official. The authority is hopeful of getting individual agreements from a majority of the farmers which they would submit in court.
Meanwhile till Thursday, having chased a target of handing out almost 1,000 cheques to farmers of Patwari village, the authority is now gearing up to compile the data of all farmers who have accepted their hiked compensation, for presenting it to the HC on August 17, the next date of hearing.
Farmers of about a dozen other villages have moved court, seeking quashing of land acquisition. The court will hear all related matters on August 17 and decide on the fate of 70,000 houses booked in Haibatpur, Bisrakh, Itedha, Ghanghola, Devla and Roza-Yakoobpur. Around 2.25 lakh houses have been planned. If the Patwari pact holds, it will save 20,000 under-construction dwelling units in the Noida Extension-Greater Noida area which falls in 589 hectares of Patwari village land.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
Related Articles
Women in MP drink alcohol and consume drugs more than anywhere in country: Congress leader Jitu Patwari2025-08-26T11:22:25Z- Jitu Patwari's remarks reflect Congress' anti-women mindset, says BJP2025-08-26T10:46:33Z
- 'No place in country has as much drugs as in MP,' says Congress chief Jitu Patwari after 112 kg of narcotics seized2024-10-14T11:32:26Z
ADVERTISEMENT
