Following up on the success of last week’s kisan panchayat and the land acquisition policy which was positively received, the Uttar Pradesh government has gone a step ahead and started distributing the one-time annuity of the rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy to 2,600 farmers of Tappal in Aligarh who had opted for it. The same exercise is also expected to kick off in Agra in a few days. About 500 hectares were been acquired in Tappal and Agra for the Jaypee Group, which is constructing the Yamuna Expressway from Greater Noida to Agra.
With this, the Mayawati government has not only reaffirmed her bonding with farmers but also obtained the stamp of approval from farmers keen to take the one time annuity.
Tappal was in the eye of a storm last August, when farmers demanding compensation equivalent to the one given to peasants in Noida clashed with the PAC, resulting in four deaths. This led to the township plan being scrapped, but it was revived after 2 months. The government then decided to reward farmers with compensation as per the new R&R policy announced in September.
As per that policy, farmers were given a choice of taking the annuity either as a one-time payment of Rs 2.40 lakh/acre or opt for Rs 20,000/acre for 33 years. Almost 2,600 farmers of Tappal informally evinced interest in taking the one-time payment and 81 farmers have applied for the same. ?Almost 510 hectares have been acquired in Tappal and approximately 2,600 farmers displaced. We have started distributing the cheques since yesterday and hope to distribute the Rs 2.47 crore to these 81 farmers in the next few days,? said Aligarh DM Anil Singh, adding that annuity cheques will be given to the rest once they apply for it.
In Agra, where 3,800 farmers were displaced from 543 hectares for a plot that would be developed by Jaypee, annuity distribution will start in a few days. ?We have received the order sanctioning distribution of annuity to those who want a one-time settlement a few back. We have asked farmers for their options and once we get that, we could ask the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Authority to release the money for it,? said Ajay Chauhan, DM Agra.
The state government is planning to sign an MoU with the Life Insurance Corporation of India for distributing the annuity for 33 years. But since the process will take time, the government thought it best to distribute the one-time annuity to those who have already opted for it, rather than delay the process further.