Manethi farmers ready to sell private land for AIIMS

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, December 2

Decks have been cleared for the AIIMS project in Manethi village as farmers have decided to provide their land for the project. They have apprised the district authorities of their decision for further action into the matter.

The Manethi panchayat has already passed a resolution, making 225 acres of common land available for the project. As per a report of the Forest Advisory Committee of the Centre, no construction is allowed since it falls under the Aravalli plantation zone.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had announced that the government was ready to set up the project in Manethi if adequate land was provided by villagers.

Many farmers were not keen to sell their land as they were expecting a boom in prices after AIIMS was set up on panchayat land. Some other farmerss were refusing to sell the land as it was their only source of livelihood.

“We do not want the project to be shifted. Residents of the village have unanimously resolved to provide their land for the project. The village has more than 1,000 acres of private land. The government can take as much land as it requires from anywhere in the village,” said Sheotaz Singh, chief of the AIIMSSangharsh Samiti.

He said the decision to provide private land for the project was taken by farmers during a panchayat meeting in the village on Sunday. Farmers expressed their willingness to sell agricultural land for betterment of the region, he added.

Deputy Commissioner Yashendra Singh confirmed that members of the AIIMS Sangharsh Samiti and several farmers called on him on Monday, expressing their desire to sell private land for the project.

“A committee led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya has been set up to find suitable land for the project in Manethi and surrounding villages. It will be easy to execute the project in Manethi if farmers provide land as per requirement. The committee will submit its report to the state government soon,” he stated.