Farmers protest land acquisition by border force on Nepal border

Maharajganj (UP), Oct 27 : Scores of farmers in Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday protested against land acquisition by the border force to erect a check- post on Nepal border.

Farmers from Tilahwa, Jugauli and Sukrauli villages staged the protest, demanding that the government should acquire an adjacent 400-acre vacant land for the purpose instead of the land presents acquired.

"We have very small pieces of land having an area of one acre or two acres. We don't want to give this to the government. We have our family to take care of. Where will we go if our land is taken away?" said Saraswati, a villager.

Officials said that the check-post would generate enough jobs.

"Once the integrated check post is made, the people will benefit as they will get employment. They will get some or the other work to do. They need not go anywhere else to earn their livelihood," said Bhagat Singh Tolia, Deputy Inspector General, 11th Battalion, SSB.

The Sashashtra Seema Bal (SSB - Armed Border Force) plans to build an "integrated check-post" on the trade route to Nepal for which 213 acres of land belonging to farmers on Sonauli border in Maharajganj has been acquired.

The check-post will enable central enforcement agencies like the SSB, Customs and Immigration to work smoothly.

Apart from the Sonauli border in Maharajganj, the government plans to construct a similar check-post in Raxaul district Bihar.

ANI