Rozka Meo farmers suspend protest after assurances from administration
Farmers from nine villages in the Rozka Meo area of Nuh have temporarily suspended their months-long protest over pending land compensation, following assurances from district officials of a conclusive dialogue with relevant authorities.
The farmers have been agitating since February 2024, demanding enhanced compensation for land acquired by the government in 2010 for setting up the Industrial Model Township (IMT) Rozka Meo.
The protest, which had been largely peaceful for several months, turned tense in the past two days, with farmers threatening to halt ongoing construction at the IMT site and resort to aggressive demonstrations. In response, local police detained around 10 protesters in the early hours yesterday, citing their involvement in previously registered cases.
Following the detentions, a meeting was held between farmer representatives and the district administration. During the discussions, Deputy Commissioner Vishram Meena assured the agitating farmers of a scheduled meeting with Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) officials in the coming days.
“We have spoken to farmers, and they have decided to wait to speak to the right authorities. Peaceful protest is a right, but we have zero tolerance for law and order disruption by anybody,” DC Meena said.
Meanwhile, prohibitory orders remain in effect across the district in anticipation of the upcoming Jalabhishek Yatra, rendering the farmers’ protest technically illegal. As per the Nuh police, Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, has been invoked in the region, banning the gathering of five or more persons and carrying of weapons.
The restrictions apply to areas acquired by HSIIDC, including the Dhir Dhaunka village and zones around the Rozka Meo police station.
In 2010, around 1,600 acres were acquired from farmers for the IMT project, with the government initially paying Rs 25 lakh per acre. However, dissatisfied with the compensation, farmers from two Faridabad villages approached the court, which subsequently ordered the government to increase the payout to Rs 2 crore per acre.
Following the verdict, farmers from the remaining nine villages also began demanding the same compensation. After years of negotiations, the government agreed to revise the compensation to Rs 46 lakh per acre. Farmers now allege they have received only Rs 21 lakh so far, and the remaining Rs 25 lakh is still unpaid — despite construction work having already started at the IMT site.
Haryana Tribune