In an attempt to speed up industrialization in the state Akhilesh Yadav Government has Decided that land would purchased directly from the farmers wherever required instead of acquiring it and the hand it over to the industries.
It has been made clear that lands should be purchased four times the prescribed circle rate and the money should be paid at one go to the farmers.
Principal Secretary Urban Development Sadakant told The Pioneer that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has made it clear that instead of government acquiring land the DMs should purchase it and handover the same to the industries wherever required.
“Acquiring land is a tedious long legal process in which sometimes farmers do not get good price of their land. This leads to resentment leading to protest and even long legal battle. To cut it short government has asked DM to purchase land directly from the farmers and handover the same to the industries or the Housing development authorities,” Sadakant said.
In case of government projects the land would directly handed over to the concerned department while in private projects the DM would act as facilitator. “This has been made clear that government will not acquire land but act as a medium to help private players to purchase land,” he said.
This formula was put to use during construction of 326 km long Agra-lucknow Expressway where the land was purchased from the farmers and same was transferred to the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA). The land was acquired without any fuss as the farmers were paid four times the present circle rate.
Uttar Pradesh had witnessed protest from the farmers during BSP regime when the then Government had proposed to construct 800 km long Expressway connecting Noida and Ballia along the right side of Ganga. The then Government had even promised job and a housing complex to the farmers whose land would be acquired for the construction of the Expressway.
Earlier this SP government also tried PPP model for construction but incentives asked by the industries was so high that it changed its strategy.
“The Government has decided to put to use the successful land acquisition formula of Agra-lucknow Expressway in other projects now. This formula is also being used by development authorities. Where ever any residential projects are proposed the DMs are asked to purchase the land and handover the same to the builders,” Sadakant said.
After successful Investors’ meet in Mumbai in which MoU worth Rs 51,000 crore was signed with over 50 industries the Government has made it clear to DMs that land acquisition should not be a problem in setting up new industries.
“land acquisition has been very smooth in Uttar Pradesh. We are the only state in India where lands have been acquired without any hassle. This is because we have a principle to pay good price to the farmers,” Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan said.
He said Government is committed to provide land to the industrialists and thus this order has been issued to DMs.
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