landowners in Badli Village have received enhanced compensation of `3.5 crore per acre for the first time in Delhi after notification of the new land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015. The Delhi Government has distributed cheques to at least 200 farmers till date for the land acquired by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). A delegation of farmers on Saturday met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to express their gratitude for giving enhanced compensation five times of the previous amount for their land.
Satish Rana, 45, a resident of Badli is the first farmer among 200 landowners to the enhanced amount of `3.5 crore per acre against the previous `53 lakh per acre. DMRC acquired the land including the main road of Siraspur village and that of Kheragadi village to construct a Metro depot.
“The process had been lingering for more than a year,” Rana told The Pioneer. “Revision in the circle rate was announced but it was not implemented since 2007,” he said, adding, “The amount I have received is five times of the old circle rate.”
At least 80 per cent of the population in the village depends on the agricultural land. They had been opposing DMRC’s move to acquire the land as per old Delhi land Reforms Act. They demanded equal compensation for both agricultural and residential land, revision of the circle rate, a Metro station in their village and allotment of alternative plots in lieu of the acquired land.
While answering about the reasons that had taken it long to process the decision, Rana said, “While the AAP Government discarded their rule… the lG was in power and he told us that he can’t take the decision without a State Government’s approval.” “later when the AAP Government came in power, it had sought lG’s approval that further got stuck…and we kept protesting,” stated Rana.