New Delhi: Reports from the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border are coming in of the administration in UP stopping NCR farmers from entering Delhi. “Water cannons, bulldozers, cranes, several RAF and police personnel” are there, stop them from entering the national capital. There are also buses on standby to probably “detain people who violate prohibitory orders”.
Farmers from 160 villages of Noida and Greater Noida had given a call to gherao the Parliament. Farmers say they have clear demands, protesting their displacement from the NTPC, Dadri such as uniform compensation to all farmers who have given their land in the past for NTPC, jobs for all those affected as well as a demand to build a hospital. Farmers say at Greater Noida, they have led a dharna for eight days and one for longer, for the past 60 days, or two months, at NTPC and Noida Authority areas.
Reports are coming in of farmers having blocked the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway.
Farmers at the Delhi-UP border. Photo: Special arrangement
Newsclick reported that On December 18, 2023, farmers sat on strike in front of the NTPC office located in Noida Sector-24. After the police stopped the protesters some distance before the main gate of NTPC, they staged a day and night strike there. These farmers of 24 villages say that they are affected by NTPC’s Dadri plant.
This protest is being led by Bharatiya Kisan Parishad leader Sukhbir Khalifa. He said that “Farmers protested at NTPC Dadri for several months and also launched a long movement. During this, several rounds of talks were held with the administration in which the demands of the farmers were considered justified but till now those demands have not been met. That’s why we have come this time to fight a decisive battle.”
Newsclick also reported on NTPC’s press release issued in December saying, “to meet the need of electricity in the national interest including NCR, the construction of Stage-1 of National Capital Power Station (NCPS) in Dadri region has been going on since 1986. 1995. The land acquisition and compensation were done as per the Land Acquisition Act existing at that time and the instructions of the district administration.” NTPC also said that “after so many years, the protest is being held again with some demands. From time to time, during various talks with the protesters, NSPC has made it known that equal compensation and employment is now no longer possible to consider.”