The verdict, however, comes as a setback to the Mayawati government.
Hundreds of farmers, thousands of apartment buyers and dozens of builders, all heaved a sigh of relief after the Allahabad High Court verdict on 63 villages of Noida, Greater Noida and Noida Extension areas in Gautam Budh Nagar district. The verdict, however, comes as a setback to the Mayawati government. The court has also ordered an inquiry into the entire land acquisition process.
Delivering the much-awaited order, a special three-judge bench comprising justices Ashok Bhushan, SU Khan and VK Shukla announced enhanced compensation for the farmers. The court had heard the writ petition of 491 farmers from these villages who had challenged the acquisition of over 3000 hectares by the state government. The case involves about 20,000 apartment buyers.
The court nullified the land acquisition in only three villages - Deola and Chak Shahberi of Greater Noida, and Asadullahpur which falls in Noida. No construction has yet begun in these villages, though buyers have already deposited money with builders. Farmers whose lands have been acquired in the other 60 villages will get an additional compensation of 64.70% (which works out to Rs1,400 per square meter as compared to Rs850 paid earlier). The court has also ordered that these farmers be given 10% of the developed land while earlier they were getting only six per cent.
The court said affected farmers of these villages were “entitled to restoration of their land subject to the return of any compensation they have already received”. The court also ordered “no further construction shall take place in the area unless approval for the same is given by the National Capital Region Planning Board”.
In a relief for the thousands of apartment buyers, the builders have collectively decided not to hike the prices of the flats already booked. “The old buyers will get their houses at the rates agreed upon. But new buyers would have to pay higher rates,” said Anil Shamrma, CMD, Amrapali Group. “After today’s court order, cheap housing in this area will remain a dream,” said RK Arora, MD, Supertech.
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