Sabeer Bhatia146;s Nano City faces farmers146; firewall

The Samiti is headed by 71-year-old Karam Singh from Rurki 8212; a village that8217;s only a few kilometres away from Manak Tabra and is totally inhabited by Sikh farmers, some of whom have been here for more than 100 years. Known as Masterji among the villagers, Karam Singh and other members of the Samiti fan across the villages at nights whenever there8217;s a rumour regarding any villager selling his land to the company.

8220;Even my great grandfather was born here. How can I sell this land? They have plans to build an airport on our lush green agricultural fields. Where will we buy land again if we sell this off? Land prices have shot through the roof everywhere. Prices in the nearby areas have gone up since the announcement of this project as they are expecting us to buy land there once we are dislocated from here,8221; says Karam Singh who, along with his brother, owns 25 acres of land in Rurki.

Though Jagpal Singh, who owns some five acres of agricultural land in Manak Tabra, is not a big farmer like Karam Singh, he is content with the money he gets by selling his farm produce and milk. 8220;Though we were initially euphoric, as prices of our land had jumped from Rs 4-5 lakh per acre to Rs 20-25 lakh per acre after Nano City was announced, we are not willing to part with our land now,8221; he says.

However, Nanocity Developers Limited director Naval Bhatia, when contacted, said they have finalised the sale deeds and would soon have 500 acres. 8220;The process of buying the required 11,000 acres will take four to five years. We will start from Manak Tabra that is right in the middle of the master plan and extend on both sides gradually. Infrastructure such as roads and educational institutions would be developed first,8221; he says.

However, the Samiti asserts that villagers have sold not a single acre to Bhatia so far and no registration of land sale has taken place in the name of the company in the tehsil. 8220;We have been assured by the Chief Minister that there will be no forceful acquisition for Nano City. But if that happens, we will agitate against it. Representatives of some farmer welfare organisations in Delhi had come here to assure us of their support,8221; says Karam Singh, while denying that the farmers8217; unity is aimed at getting a better deal from the company. 8220;Even if the developers offer double of what they are offering 8212; Rs 20-22 lakh per acre 8212; we will not sell our land,8221; he asserts.

Because of the uncertainty, the farmers here are making no capital investments 8212; be it deep boring for tubewells or renovation of their homes. 8220;Everyday, there8217;s a new rumour. We have been even told that the developers have computerised maps of our land holdings,8221; says one of them.