Centre stall Gr Noida-Ballia Ganga Expressway Project: SP

Lucknow, Dec 17 (UNI) The principal opposition Samajwadi Party today urged the Centre to stall the ambitious Greater Noida-Ballia Ganga Expressway Project announced by the Uttar Pradesh government.

''The Centre should not clear the project as lakhs of farmers would be ruined by it,'' SP state president and former PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav said addressing a news conference here.

He alleged that Chief Minister Mayawati did not care about the state's farmers and was pursuing such projects for personal gains.

''While, lakhs of farmers would be rendered unemployed, the project would also adversely affect foodgrains' production and environment.'' Terming the Mayawati regime as ''anti farmer,'' Mr Yadav claimed that the state government was conspiring to transfer lakhs of hectares of fertile agricultural land along the proposed Expressway route to capitalists at throwaway prices.

The SP leader lamented that the dues of sugarcane farmers were yet to be settled and they were forced to sell their produce at Rs 40-50 per quintal.

''The party would continue to fight for the cause of farmers and if need be, we will not hesitate for a statewide agitation,'' he announced.

Meanwhile, Mr Yadav demanded a probe into the alleged rampant corruption in the name of backlog recruitment.

UNI