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Journalism of Courage
In an attempt to send a soothing message to farmers who are angry over arbitrary compensation for their lands and no hearing,the UP government is likely to announce setting up of an authority to hear disputes regarding compensation at the farmers panchayat called here on Thursday.
Chief Minister Mayawati will attend the panchayat for which a big delegation of farmers,led by BKU national spokesman Rakesh Tikait,has arrived in the state capital.
Such an authority,both at the Centre and in the states,is proposed in the amendment to the Land Acquisition Act,1984,drafted by the Centre,which is stuck because of the differences among UPA allies.
This is also one of the demands conveyed to the state government by the BKU.
Other measures being considered by the government to strike a pro-farmer image include providing developed land to farmers at the rate of compensation,and a system of land-pooling in which farmers get a share in the developed land by way of compensation,as is the practice in Gujarat,sources said.
Besides,the government is also considering improvements in its rehabilitation and resettlement policy which was announced in September last year after the agitation at Tappal in Aligarh. Sources said the government wants to make its R&R policy the best in the country in order to counter Congress claims that Haryana offers the best deal to farmers.
Sources said the state government has liked the idea of the creation of an authority to hear disputes and would like to implement it without delay,provided there are no legal hurdles. Senior officials are examining the matter,and also other BKU demands.
The government believes the proposed authority will go a long way in removing the irritants because complaints regarding compensation and absence of hearing are the two major issues fueling the farmers anger in different parts of the state.
Also,it will save the government from embarrassment in courts. In the last one and a half months,the Supreme Court and the Allahabad High Court have scrapped land acquisition notifications in five cases because the farmers were not given a hearing.
Besides,the government can score a point over the Congress-led UPA government which has not been able to push its own amendment to the Land Acquisition Act.
The BKU has presented eight points for the consideration of the government. These include compensation at 10 per cent above the market rate and also compensation for the loss of crops.
The developers should directly acquire land from the farmers and in case of need,the government should acquire up to 20 per cent. The government should acquire land only for ¿public purposes¿ such as rail,road,education or other government projects,and the land should be returned to the farmers after three years if it is not used for the purpose for which it was acquired.
