Farmers’ body divided, wants decision to be put to vote A multi-model logistics hub over 1,100 acres entailing an infrastructure cost of nearly Rs 3,000 crore and an industrial estate to boost investment, income and employment, besides a fortnight’s freight journey shrinking to 20 hours once the Delhi-Mumbai freight corridor is operational -- that is the roadmap for the miraculous transformation of Rewari-Mahendergarh which will impact three-fourths of Haryana. However, in the debate in agriculture versus industrialisation, this ambitious project seems to be hanging by a thread at the mercy of land availability and politics. That is probably why, after a couple of meetings, talks for acquisition of 3,664 acres in Rewari have hit a roadblock. The Bhoomi Adhigrahan Virodh Samiti, in talks with the Haryana Government, is not only reluctant but divided over parting with its “fertile land” and adamant that compensation be given as per provisions of the new land acquisition legislation. More importantly, the samiti wants acquisition to be put to vote, a provision under the new policy when the land is being acquired by private players. Their idea in seeking a vote is that most farmers will go against it, the project will be derailed and their land will be saved. The samiti also wants dropping of criminal cases registered against farmers in July 2012, when arson and violence broke out in protest against land acquisition. While Ram Krishan Mehlawat, a member of the samiti, insists that the farmers are against giving up their fertile land for an industrial project, he says they can reconsider acquisition if the government agrees to play by the new rules of the game. “We are unwilling partners in this development plan since it means forgoing our fertile land. Ahir leaders have neither been heard nor been involved in talks. We might still agree to acquisition proceedings if the government accepts our demands. So far, the chairman of the committee holding talks with us, Industries Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala, has not yet agreed to this, stating the new legislation is yet to be notified. The ball is in the government’s court,” Mehlawat claims. While this “doublespeak” of the samiti has left the government confused, sources attribute its flip-flop to intra-party politics. So far, a sulking Capt Ajay Yadav, Power Minister and a prominent Ahir leader, has chosen to distance himself from these talks. Sources maintain that though the government had initially announced to associate him with the talks, it remained a mere announcement and nothing more. “He is definitely not going to volunteer his services,” an aide maintained. Meanwhile, Surjewala, trying to bring the samiti members round to the government’s viewpoint, has fixed another meeting for October 22 though the demand for voting has been outrightly rejected since, under the new, yet-to-be-notified, legislation, the acquisition process can be put to vote when it is either for a public-private partnership project or for a private party, requiring 70 per cent and 80 per cent consent of landholders, respectively. “The project will bring unprecedented stimulus to the area and open up opportunities for Haryana. The government is looking into their demands though voting is ruled out since this is a government project,” Surjewala said. Combining rail and road linkages, this project in a landlocked state with no scope of a port also entails the development of the Manesar-Bawal region over 400 sq km. While a resolution on land acquisition is hanging fire, the Haryana Government is keen to expedite it since a delay could translate into a gain elsewhere. “This economic driver is one of the eight nodes identified by the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor. While the funds are available for the takeoff and development, a delay will transfer resources to another node while Haryana shifts to the backburner,” sources said. The obstacles * Project at mercy of land availability and politics * Sources attribute flip-flop to Congress politics * Surjewala fixes another meeting for October 22