Cameraperson: Shiv Kumar Maurya
Video Editor: Rahul Sanpui
In 2017, the Uttar Pradesh government acquired 1,200 square meter of Vikas Singh's land for the Jewar International Airport, located barely 75 km away from the National Capital. Singh, a farmer from Dayanatpur village on the outskirts of Jewar, was promised a plot, monetary compensation, and a cattle-shed.
Five years later, however, Singh is waiting for the Uttar Pradesh government to keep these promises as he lives in a rented house without any permanent source of income.
"I used to plough 12 bighas of my land and had four buffaloes and two cows. I owned 1,200 square meter land in this village. The administration acquired my land and promised that they will rehabilitate me. They said I will be given a home, and a farm for the animals. Till date, however, I have been allotted only 600 square meter of land. My buffaloes have nowhere to go, and my cow has died," he says.
The UP government has arranged for rehabilitation of these families in Jewar Banger Township, nearly 7 Km from Dayanatpur. Singh, however, claims that the new plots in Jewar Banger are inhabitable, as they lack basic facilities such as water and electricity connections. This,he says, is the primary reason why he and many others like him continue living in rented houses in Dayanatpur itself.
Dayanatpur is one of the eight villages where land was acquired for the international airport, a pet project of the state and the central government.
Since 2017, farmers have staged multiple demonstrations and organised mahapanchayats to register their disapproval of the compensation and rehabilitation process. Many even allege large-scale corruption in land acquisition.
What Are The Farmers Demanding?
Raisuddin, 43, a labourer, says, "The government offered us compensation which was only twice the circle rate in this area. This is in violation of the law. We are demanding compensation equal to four times the circle rate of our area."
The law Raisuddin is referring to is the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. As per the Act, the compensation payable while acquiring land in UP is two times the market value for urban areas, and four times the market value for rural areas.
Villagers allege that Dayanatpur was notified as an 'urban area' right before the acquisition process started.
"Overnight, it was declared that our village is an urban area. Even if we take that to be true, we should at least be paid twice the circle rate here. Most of us, however, are struggling to get any compensation at all."Raisuddin, Labourer
Hazra, another farmer who is living in a makeshift tent in Dayanatpur with her family, says that her family is struggling to get basic facilities such as water and electricity. "We haven't received our compensation. They are exploiting the poor. There is no electricity. We don't even have a kabristan to bury our dead," she says. "Where do we go and die now?"
Allegations of Mismanagement & Corruption
"Whenever we go to the authorities to ask for our money, everybody from the lowest to the highest level demands a bribe," alleges 69-year-old Raghunandan Sharma. "These corrupt officers should be fired and boycotted. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should probe them," he laments.
Around 5o acres of Sharma's land was acquired by the UP government for the project but he is not alone. Vikas Singh, Raisuddin, Hazra and several other residents of the village made similar allegations.
"We are living in these makeshift tents here in Dayanatpur because we could not afford the bribes which were being asked for," Hazra says. Singh concurs. "Those who are able to afford, pay the officers and are getting their work done. How is it fair to pay money to these officials to get our own money back?" he asks.
UP Elections 2022
Residents of Dayanatpur are not thrilled about the upcoming state assembly elections. "We are Muslims. This government anyway doesn't listen to us," says Raisuddin. "We don't think it matters to them if we vote for them or not," he adds.
Nizamuddin Mohammad, 53, says that they will show black flags to the BJP leaders who come to their village to ask for votes.
"The authorities came here with JCBs and demolished our homes, while our children were still inside. When we protested, we were told to go and die. We won't vote for the BJP. A government like this should never be elected. We will show them black flags."Nizamuddin Mohammad, Farmer
Some like Raghunandan Sharma, however, have pinned their hopes on UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. "Yogi (Adityanath) isn't asking the officials to take bribes. It is the bureaucrats who are corrupt and who should be fired," he says.
"We will vote for Yogi ji, come what may. It isn't easy to govern UP. It is a country in itself. He (Yogi Adityanath) can take his time but this corruption should end," he adds.
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