Lalu’s dream project runs into farmers’ protest

“The railway line is meant only to please Lalu Yadav. There is no factory,religious place,historical place or business centre in the area,” said TN Mishra,president of the Bhumi Bachao Kishan Sangharsh Samiti which wants the project scrapped.

Railway officials,however,deny the allegation. “It is for the benefit of the people,” said an official who did not want to be named.

On May 24,the Samiti suspended its 100-day dharna at Bhatni after the DM wrote to the principal secretary,PWD,stating the land could not be acquired because of protests against the proposed railway track and seeking the government’s guidance. He marked copies to principal secretary to the Chief Minister and other authorities.

Amit Singh,Chief PRO of North-Eastern Railway,said 22 km railway track in Bihar has been built at a cost of Rs 140 crore. About a year ago,work stopped to undertake construction of a flyover on the way.

Last year,farmers in 14 villages of Deoria started getting notices of land acquisition. They formed the Bhumi Bachao Kishan Sangharsh Samiti and started a campaign against land acquisition and the construction of the track. They sent memoranda to various authorities and,in February,started a dharna at Bhatni.

“We suspended our agitation after the DM assured he had briefed the government about our views,” said Mishra,adding they started their dharna when no one acknowledged their letters.

Asked about the farmers’ demand,a railway official said it is a dispute between the UP government and farmers. The Railway needs 41.902 hectare land which passes through 14 villagers in Deoria and has paid around Rs 9 crore to UP government,he said.

The DM,however,said,“Money is not an issue. The farmers,most of whom are small and marginal,are not ready to give their land.”

Mishra said after they started the dharna,farmers from nearby seven villages of Bihar’s Gopalganj district joined them.

Brij Bhushan Tiwari,a farmer from Bangara village just across the border in Bihar,said the Bihar government has not yet informed them about the land required. “We came to know about it when a team of railway officials visited our village for a survey and made some markings,” said Tiwari.

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