As more farmers move the court against acquisition of their land in Noida, industry body ASSOCHAM has urged the Centre to take initiative and evolve a consensus among all stakeholders as the crisis gets politicised and casts a shadow over rapid urbanisation in the region.
The chamber said it has received a large number of representations from property developers, city experts and home buyers in Greater Noida and Noida Extension.
“We believe there is a first rate crisis in urban development for the Centre and state government. It must be resolved amicably at the earliest,” said D.S. Rawat, Secretary General of The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
With the Land Acquisition Bill yet to be introduced in Parliament, there is widespread lack of confidence among developers to build new townships. Financial institutions will be reluctant to advance loans if the uncertainty continues.
Delhi’s population has doubled in the past ten years to 23 million. Across the country, urban population will grow from 360 million to 590 million in the next two decades. The number of cities with a population of over four million will rise from seven now to 13 by 2030.
“The urban chaos will get worse unless residential and commercial accommodation is created on a phenomenal scale with robust infrastructure and world-class transportation systems,” said Rawat.
Last week, the Allahabad High Court had scrapped acquisition of 589.13 hectares in Greater Noida. Earlier, the Supreme Court had upheld the court decision to return 156 hectares to farmers of Shahberi village.
Acquisition of around 2,000 acres in the region has been challenged in the court.
ASSOCHAM said farmers must be adequately compensated when their land is acquired. But the government cannot be a mere spectator if land prices touch sky-high due to competitive bidding.
“This will raise prices beyond the paying capacity of prospective home buyers. If new homes are not available within the means of middle class families, then prices and rentals of existing homes will go up further, leading to congestion, illegal structures and social unrest.”
The Chamber said interests of home buyers in Greater Noida and Noida Extension must be protected at all costs. A feasible work plan for growth of satellite towns around major cities must be put in place for orderly urbanisation which propels economic growth and benefits rural population as well.
