Farm bodies to intensify struggle to reclaim land

Tribune News Service

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Patiala, August 1
Farm organisations, under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), including All India Kisan Federation, Krantikari Kisan Union Punjab, Bharti Kisan Union Rajewal, All India Kisan Sabha, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, All India Kisan Sabha (CPM), Bharti Kisan Union Lakhowal and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Noujawan Sabha, convened at Rajpura to intensify their struggle for reclaiming 533 acres of unused land.
The meeting saw attendance from prominent leaders such as Prem Singh Bhangu, president of AIKF, Dr Darshan Pal, president of Krantikari Kisan Union, Gulzar Singh Salempur of BKU Rajewal, Gurwinder Singh Dhuma, Lakhwinder Singh Lakha, Jagpal Singh, Hari Singh Daun Klan, Iqbal Singh, and Ujaggar Singh.
Prem Singh Bhangu highlighted that 1,119 acres from eight villages near Rajpura were acquired in 1994 to establish an industrial estate. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on October 14, 1993, between a private entity and the Punjab Government stipulated that the land would be returned if the project was not established within ten years. Despite this, only a chemical unit was set up on 98 acres, leaving the rest of the land unused.
The MoU expired in 2003, but the state government extended it for ten years in 2011, and again for three years in 2021. With the latest extension ending in two months and no significant development on the land, farmers demand the return of the unused 533 acres, citing the new Land Acquisition Act, 2013. Section 101 of the Act mandates the return of land to the original owners if it remains unused for five years.
The farmers are resolute in their demand, emphasising that the company and government have failed to comply with the MoU, and any further extension will not be tolerated. They plan to continue their struggle until their land is returned.
Bhangu said that the land in question was “forcibly” acquired by the then Congress government in 1994 for the private entity at a throwaway price of Rs 1.45 lakh per acre, despite the market value being Rs 10 lakh per acre due to its proximity to the Rajpura-Patiala highway and Rajpura’s municipal limits. SKM has decided to submit a memorandum to the DC of Patiala next week, demanding the return of the unused land to the original owners. Additionally, a massive dharna is planned for August 9 in front of the Rajpura SDM office.