Farmers protest against inequality in Raxaul Airport land compensation
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Jagran correspondent, Raxaul (East Champaran). Farmers and villagers demonstrated on Airport Road on Friday over the disparity in the amount of compensation for the land acquired for the proposed airport project in the local block area. Farmers raised slogans against the government demanding “one land – one price”. The demonstration was led by social worker cum advocate Umesh Prasad Chaurasia.
Landowners Arvind Yadav, Sadhu Sah, Shashikant Kumar, Dhani Lal Das, Pannalal Pandit, Anchal Kumar, Mukesh Das, Mahendra Shah, Harinder Sah, Dilip Singh, Lakshan Dev, Abhishek Kishan Dev Mahato, Vishnu Dev Mahato, Pawan Sah, Baldev Sah, Shatrughan Sah, Munni Sah, Kanhaiya Sah, Ram Swaroop Sah and other farmers participated in the demonstration. Farmers said that when all the acquired land is agricultural, then why was there discrimination by the administration in the valuation.
The protesters held placards and demanded equality in compensation rates. Farmers said that about six mouzas of land has been acquired under the airport project, but there is a huge difference in the compensation rates set by the government.
According to the information, compensation for the land of Ekderwa Mauza has been fixed at around Rs 17 lakh per acre, whereas in Bharatmahi Mauza it is only Rs 5 lakh per acre. Whereas in Siswa and Chanduli Mauza, compensation has been fixed at Rs 11 lakh per acre and in Chikni and Singhpur Mauza, compensation has been fixed at Rs 17 lakh per acre.
Umesh Prasad Chaurasia alleged that this is direct injustice and discrimination against the farmers. He said that the nature, use and condition of the land of all the Maujs is almost the same, yet different rates have been fixed. When compensation of Rs 17 lakh per acre can be given in the adjacent villages Ekderwa and Chikni, then why are the farmers of Bharatmahi being given only Rs 5 lakh. This is completely disproportionate and unjust.
He warned that if the government did not immediately fulfill the demand of “one land – one price”, the farmers would intensify the movement. In the coming days, there will be a massive movement from the block office to the district headquarters and the capital. He also made it clear that until all farmers get equal compensation, no farmer will raise the compensation amount.
The protesting farmers said that land is their main source of livelihood and their future will be bleak if they get less compensation. The farmers appealed to the government to immediately intervene and ensure equality in compensation rates, so that justice is done to the farmers and the work of the airport project can proceed without dispute.