Agra incident-free, farmers refuse to relent

AGRA - Talks between agitating farmers and the Uttar Pradesh government were held amid tight security in Agra district Wednesday, a day after peasants turned violent in their demand for higher compensation for lands acquired for the Yamuna Expressway.

Two government officials and half-a-dozen policemen were injured in clashes with agitating farmers Tuesday in Etmadpur sub-division, some 20 km from Taj city. A dozen vehicles were also smashed by farmers.

Officials Wednesday held talks with farmer leaders representing a struggle committee at Chalesar, close to Kuberpur in Etmadpur, to end the violence over their demand for higher compensation for their lands acquired for the expressway and townships being built by Jaypee group.

Etmadpur resembled a cantonment with security forces from nearby towns deployed in large numbers to prevent violence.

The 165-km Noida-Agra Yamuna Expressway has also evoked criticism from local environmental groups. “They should stick to the expressway. Why are they acquiring agricultural lands for new urban clusters?” asked green activist Ravi Singh.

“This would be disastrous for the ecology along the Yamuna river,” he warned.

D.K. Joshi, environmentalist and a petitioner in the Supreme Court which is already hearing the matter, said he had to rely on the transparency law to get information on the project.

Environment protection group Friends of Vrindavan (FOV) has also voiced concern over green issues related to the project. Friends of Vrindavan convener Jagdish Poddar said: “In any developmental project the ecological balance should not be disturbed.”

The expressway, which is expected to reduce the driving time between New Delhi and Agra to just about 90 minutes, will pass through Gautam Buddha Nagar, Aligarh, Mahamaya Nagar (Hathras) and Mathura, and involves acquisition of land in 115 villages.

The farmers’ agitation in Tappal town in Aligarh district was withdrawn Tuesday after the government enhanced the compensation amount for the land acquired for the project.

The compensation amount was increased from Rs.449 per square metre to Rs.570 per square metre.

The government also released from jail farmers’ leader Rambabu Katelia, as demanded by the protesters.

However, farmers in Agra and several other areas rejected the agreement reached between Katelia and government officials in Aligarh Tuesday. They stuck to their demand for higher compensation amount.