Dairy shifting project: Farmers at wits’ end

Patiala, October 17

Dairy farmers of the city, who are supposed to be shifted to the under-construction dairy-farming project at a 21-acre site at Ablowal village, have raised the demand of deduction of allotment rate to the Municipal Corporation (MC).

The farmers added that it’s still unclear that the plots, provided to them by the MC, will be given either through sale deeds or conveyance deeds.

The farmers, who claim to have held a number of meetings with the corporation, said the rate decided by the MC for allotment of the plots is Rs 3,500, which is too high.

Nishan Singh Sandhu, vice-president, Dairy Farmers’ Union, said, “The rate should be lowered as we have to shift to the new area. The government should provide us the plots at lower rates.”

The dairy farmers have raised concerns over the size of plots as well. “The plot size as informed to us is very small. It ranges from 150 to 300 square yards, which should be increased,” he said adding that the farmers are yet not sure how they will be allotted the plots under the project.

He said, “On the one hand the MC says that we have to submit the construction plans and get them cleared from the corporation, on the other hand they say they will sign a conveyance deed for allotment of the plots. The plots should be registered in our names.”

Meanwhile, as per the rules of the dairy shifting project, the MC will sign a conveyance deed along with the clause that farmers will not use the allotted area for any purpose other than dairy farming.

Mayor Sanjeev Kumar Sharma said earlier the rate decided for allotment of the plots during the Shiromani Akali Dal regime was Rs 8,500. “We held meetings and decided to reduce it for the benefit of the dairy farmers. Now, they can raise the matter with us and we will try to benefit them.” 

The conveyance deeds are being signed to ensure that the plot-holders do not engage in other businesses in the area. The government is spending on building the infrastructure in the area, rules of which need to be followed, he added. — TNS