Hajipur housing projects bear brunt of land quashing

In yet another case of land acquisition quash in Hajipur village (in Sector 100), the fate of several group housing projects is in lurch. The land stands quashed on the petition of a body challenging the one-sided acquisition of Noida Authority. The home buyers and farmers are accusing the Noida Authority for this mess. They said the authority sold disputed land to the builders, which further troubled several home buyers.

This is not the first time the acquisition of agricultural land allotted to builders for residential purposes (acquired for industrial use) has been quashed. Many cases across Gautam Budh Nagar have been recorded after farmers moved the courts. Noida is an industrial body that was formed under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Act, 1976.

"The authority took the land for industrialisation and later gave it to builders for residential purpose. In 2008, however, the land use was changed from industrial to residential (group housing) and officials continued with the acquisition, after which farmers began moving the court," said Naresh Pradhan, a farmer.

He further added that the authority cheated them and the culprits should be put behind bars. "The authorities had promised industries and jobs to our children, but now all we see are buildings and we are left with nothing," Pradhan said.

In 2011, the Allahabad high court had directed the then Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to order a probe into the authority's decision in proceeding to implement its master plan-2021 without the approval of the NCR planning board.

" A farmer, a buyer and a builder are victims of this fraud. Everyone was misled by the authority. When a builder bought the land, farmers moved the court. That's when the buyer also became a victim, as many projects were stopped by the courts," said Ashok Mishra, a buyer.

According to Noida tehsildar, Jai Prakash, some land acquired has been quashed, but they are trying to acquire the land again.