Farmers at Metaumri village in Hingna tehsil strongly opposed the land measurement process initiated for the Third Outer Ring Road project on Thursday, alleging that the exercise had begun without the authorities announcing the criteria for compensation. According to Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti, farmers expressed resentment over the commencement of the measurement process despite assurances that the compensation criteria would be announced before the exercise was undertaken.

 

The issue comes in the wake of the suspension of land measurement at Borirani village in Parseoni tehsil. Subsequently, coordinators of the Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti and Baliraja Shetkari Sanghatana from various tehsils had met the District Collector to discuss the concerns of farmers. The farmers claimed that during the meeting, the District Collector had assured them that the compensation criteria would be announced before commencing the measurement process. They were also assured that no force would be used to carry out the exercise, the release stated. However, the commencement of measurement at Metaumri without clarity on compensation prompted farmers to object to the process. They demanded that the administration honour its assurances, take farmers into confidence and suspend the exercise until the compensation criteria were clearly communicated.

 

The farmers clarified that they were not opposed to development but wanted fair and adequate compensation for their land. They stressed that transparency regarding compensation criteria, market value and damage assessment was essential before proceeding with land acquisition. Warning of an intensification of their agitation, the farmers stated that the administration must honour its commitments, failing which they would launch a more aggressive protest. The Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti has urged the administration to intervene immediately, hold discussions with the affected farmers and announce the compensation criteria before proceeding with further action.