Farmers agitate against land acquisition in Lucknow

Lucknow, Sep.17 (ANI): Hundreds of farmers are agitating against the forceful acquisition of land by the authorities and have demanded adequate compensation for their land in Uttar Pradesh.

"We have been agitating for the past 70 days against acquisition of our lands for a highway road development project in Rae Bareilly. They sold the land to private builders at a price of Rs.11, 000 per square feet whereas they paid the farmers only Rs.2.37 per square feet. We are now holding this protest and we would continue it unless our demands of higher compensation are met," said Harinam Singh Verma, a farmer.

India's current land acquisition law was framed over a century ago and it allows the government to take over land for a "public purpose" without paying adequate compensation at the market price.

The Cabinet recently approved a new draft Land Acquisition Bill in the wake of the widespread protests by farmers over large-scale irregularities in the acquisition of their lands. (ANI)