NOIDA: Delay in handing over a developed plot to a family of farmers, who had given up land for the development of the city almost two decades ago, has put the Noida Authority in dock again. More so, because one of the beneficiaries of the land scheme happens to be a member of the legislative council.
After Jitendra Yadav, a Samajwadi Party MLC, raised a question on the delay before the standing committee of the legislative council, the Authority went on an overdrive. On Monday afternoon, more than a dozen officials went scouting for land around Parthala Chowk that could be handed over to Yadav.
It was in 2003 that Yadav’s family had parted with about 3,000 sqmt in Garhi Chaukhandi village. The land was required to expand the city and develop sectors 121-126. However, the family did not get the plot under the Kisan Abadi scheme, under which the Authority had agreed to offer back developed plots to the original inhabitants and allocate 5% of the land that was taken from them.
“For the past five years, I have been following up with the Authority to get 126sqmt under the Kisan Abadi scheme. They offered me land in other locations, but I wanted it in sectors 121-126, which were developed on the land we had given. Several other individuals have been offered land close to their original village. Also, the Authority is offering no clarity on how the plots are being allocated. Is it done in alphabetical order or the date of acquisition?” asked Yadav.
As the Authority has to respond before the standing committee on Wednesday, officials have begun their homework on an urgent basis. “The planning division has been asked to prepare a list of plots that are available. In some sectors around Garhi Chaukhandi, we did not have land to offer to the original villagers. That is how the delay took place,” said Santosh Upadhyay, an officer on special duty and in-charge of the land department at the Authority. He added that the matter is being resolved in coordination with Yadav.