Farmers demand 5X reckoner rate for bullet train land

Mumbai: Farmers and landowners of 10 villages in Thane district including Diva, Kopar, Bhopar and Agasan, are opposing the acquisition of their land for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, the National Railway Freight Corridor, and the Virar-Alibaug multimode corridor.

Despite the authorities having offered to compensate them, they are demanding compensation at five times the ready-reckoner rate as per the new law. Meanwhile, Vadodara-based farmers, too, are opposing the bullet train, and this may delay the project which is otherwise scheduled to commence in June, sources said.

Despite opposition from the Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and MNS, the BJP-led central and state governments are going ahead with the bullet train project. The National High Speed Rail Corporation, which was set up for the project, has started acquiring land from farmers.

Amid the opposition from farmers and landowners, the project needs lands in Thane and Palghar districts. While state authorities have issued notices to them, they are not ready to give up their lands. They have now approached Sena leader and PWD minister Eknath Shinde for help.

Mr Shinde told The Asian Age, “I had a meeting with the collector and the landowners whose lands will be acquired for the bullet train project. They want compensation of five times the readyreckoner rate for which the railway is ready. Sena will support the locals and no injustice will be done. I will meet CM if required.”