Farmers in Jewar are in discussions with the officials before the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls about land compensation and mega industrial projects, which are critical issues for them because their land is now being acquired for the Noida international airport as well as other development activities in the area.
They are demanding more land compensation from political parties seeking votes in the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, which are set to take place in seven stages from February 10 to March 7. The first phase of casting a vote will take place on February 10 in Gautam Budh Nagar's three assembly constituencies of Noida, Jewar, and Dadri.
Jewar: The constituency with most attention
Jewar, one of Gautam Budh Nagar's three assembly constituencies, has received a lot of attention in the polls due to the Noida international airport project, that is being built near the Yamuna Expressway.
Farmers in localities where land acquisition for the airport project is underway have been pressing the state government for greater land compensation and better rehabilitation services throughout this election period.
"Political officials from various parties have visited our communities and appealed to the people to demonstrate their support for them." Our agenda is clear... We will support the party or candidate who promises us more compensation for the land acquired by the authorities for development activities here.
The Uttar Pradesh government is offering 2,500 per square meter for our property, which is twice the cost set by the prior government. "Our demand is 4 times the government's rate," says Ajay Pratap Singh, a farmer from Dayanatpur village.
The agency has begun work on the ground to create the airport's two runways. As per the concession agreement, the government must provide the subsidiary with 1,363 hectares of land adjacent to the existing airport site for the third runway and future expansion. More than 1,363 hectares of land acquisition are underway.
Villages covered in Project area
Six villages will be utilized to build the third runway and commercial upkeep, maintenance, and overhauling of craft facility, and the acquiring land process is underway.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Thakur Dhirendra Singh, a sitting MLA from Jewar; the Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance has fielded former MP Avtar Singh Bhadana; the Congress has fielded Manoj Chaudhary, a first-time candidate; and the Bahujan Samaj Party has fielded Narendra Dedha from this crucial seat.
According to the majority of farmers, the "primary struggle for this seat is between the SP-RLD alliance and the BJP."
"The airport project is a big one, and it will change this region completely," said Aarif Khan, a farmer from Nagla Sharif. However, we will vote while keeping other regional development projects in mind, as well as the current MLA's behavior, in mind. He has built roads, universities, and schools, as well as worked in a variety of disciplines to better the region. So we're on his side."
The SP-RLD alliance, the Congress, and the BSP candidates have all assured farmers that they will get more remuneration and significant benefits for their families. "The farmers have suffered injustice because the current compensation rate is so low." If voted into power, we will do justice to the farmers," Avtar Singh Bhadana has been assuring farmers.
"Farmers are furious with the way the government has dismantled their houses to make place for the airport project, even without providing them new houses," claimed Congress candidate Manoj Chaudhary. We will not allow it to happen in villages wherever land acquisition is taking on."
"The airport, Film City, Medical Device Park, colleges, Skill institutions, and Food Park are important developments that have come up in Jewar in the last five years," said BJP MLA Thakur Dhirendra Singh, who has been doing door-to-door campaigns ahead of the elections. Besides that, we have worked without discrimination for all of the communities in the region, that is why the people are supporting us.
Farmers are pleased with land compensation provided by the government. We will fix any issues that arise if someone is unhappy."
