Farmers protest delay in compensation for land acquired

A group of farmers impounded the chair, computer and official vehicle of an irrigation department official in Malegaon to protest the alleged delay in compensating them after their land was acquired to construct a percolation tank.
Nearly 14 farmers, hailing from Vadel village in Nashik district's Malegaon taluka, yesterday went into the office of Ankur Desai, the executive engineer for water conservation in irrigation department, and asked him to "leave" his chair, Additional Collector Kanhuraj Bagate said.
They then impounded his chair, computer and official vehicle to protest the delay in payment of adequate compensation for acquiring about 60 acres of their village land to construct a percolation tank some years back, he said.

Later, the protesters reached the Collector's office but failed to meet him as he was on a tour, Bagate said.
Resident Collector Ramdas Khedkar and Additional Collector Bagate requested the farmers not to resort to such a move, and assured that their pending compensation will be paid within three months.
The officials told the farmers that compensation payment got delayed due to elections and the Kumbh mela.
The government had in 2000-2001 acquired about 60 acres of agricultural land of 14 farmers in Vadel village for a percolation tank project.
The farmers were paid a compensation of Rs 1.25 lakh per acre in 2009-10,following which they approached the Malegaon civil court, which last year ordered the government to pay in total Rs 9.65 crore to those whose land was acquired.