Farmers threaten to step up stir

Pledging to continue their agitation against the government’s decision to implement the master plan in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt...

Pledging to continue their agitation against the government’s decision to implement the master plan in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt, hundreds of farmers and elected representatives of panchayti raj institutions held a maha-panchayat to register their protest at Nalagarh, on Saturday.

The maha panchayat today unanimously passed a resolution urging the government to withdraw its decision in the larger interests of farming community.

Notably, the government had invited objections from the villagers by September 30 before implementing the master plan in Buddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial area.The proposal to implement the master plan was moved by the previous Congress government in order to provide basic amenities, strengthen infrastructure and ensure planned growth of the area, two years ago.

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After this, the master plan was prepared by the officials of concerned department. Under the plan, the government had proposed a total width of internal roads from five to 15 metres, 24 metres of main roads, 45 metres of state highways and 60 meters of the national highway.

The master plan would be implemented in 229 villages including Nagar Parishad, Baddi, and Municipal Committee, Nalagarh, over 318 sq km area.

The farmers at the maha panchayat also demanded compensation to the farmers as per the prevailing market prices of the land, being acquired for the purpose of setting up of industries and widening of roads in the area.

The meeting also demanded scrapping of change of land use, translation of master plan in Hindi language and relaxation of norms in Town and Country Planning Act.