Say loyalty, other benefits not given for past 8 years Infuriated over not being given royalty for their land acquired for setting up of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Jhajjar, farmers of 12 villages here have threatened to take possession of the land if the royalty is not released within next 10 days. The farmers said they had been running from pillar to post to get the royalty and other benefits promised by the company while acquiring their agriculture land over eight years ago but to no avail. A panchayat of these villages, presided over by ‘satgama’ (seven villages) chief Nityanand, held at Kukraula village in the district last evening discussed indifferent attitude of the Reliance company towards the farmers. “The panchayat resolved to serve a 10-day ultimatum on the company for releasing the royalty and other benefits otherwise the farmers will start cultivating the land,” said Ram Kumar, a farmer. He said the Reliance company had acquired around 8,500 acres of 12 villages for setting up of the SEZ in Jhajjar in 2006. Company officials had promised to give Rs 30,000 per acre every year as royalty for the next 33 years besides a job to kin of every farmer while acquiring the land. Moreover, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda also announced the royalty during Jharli rally in 2008, he added. “The company is now going back on its promises that take a toll on hundreds of farmers who have been waiting for the royalty for the last eight years. Several times we called on higher officials of the company but to no avail,” said Ram Kumar, adding that the state government should intervene in the matter.