'UP government's land rates better than Centre'

Lucknow, May 16: After facing farmers' agitation over land acquisition, the Uttar Pradesh government today clarified that the compensation being provided by the state was better than those of the central government.

"The compensation provided by the state during the past three to four years is much better than the one provided by the central government or its undertakings. Still some vested interests are out to provoke farmers against the state government on the issue," an official spokesman said here.

The policy framed by the UP government for land acquisition was the most progressive and farmers' friendly in the country, he claimed.

The rehabilitation and relocation policy is also better than the one being pursued by Haryana or any other state, he said.

Reiterating Chief Minister Mayawati's charge that the compensation being provided for setting up a rail coach factory in Rae Bareli was inadequate, the spokesman said that the rate was merely between Rs 2.9 lakh to 4.35 lakh per acre in Dalmau area.

The compensation rate in Noida was Rs 44 lakh/acre, Greater Noida Rs 36 lakh/acre and Yamuna Expressway between Rs 22 lakh to 35 lakh per acre.

The spokesman pointed out that while the Ghaziabad Development Authority acquired land at Rs 44 lakh per acre, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) paid Rs 32 lakh per acre for the same.

PTI