Ghaziabad Development Authority Modifies Land Acquisition Plan for Harnandipuram Housing Scheme
The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has decided to temporarily leave out three villages from its land acquisition plans for the ambitious Harnandipuram housing project. This change follows discussions regarding the rates for land purchases, which have become a point of contention with farmers in the region. The project, which is set to span an area of 521 hectares, will proceed with land acquisition from five of the eight affected villages, while the remaining three will be excluded for the time being.
The Harnandipuram housing scheme is intended to create a well-planned residential area in Ghaziabad, near the Delhi-Meerut Road. With the city rapidly expanding, the project aims to accommodate a growing population, offering modern housing and amenities. However, land acquisition for such large-scale projects often faces challenges, particularly when it involves agricultural land and local farmers. The GDA’s decision to proceed with five villages—Mathurapur, Nagla Firoz Mohanpur, Shamsher, Champat Nagar, and Bhaneda Khurd—has been driven by the relative ease of land availability and procurement in these areas. The authority believes it can move forward with the first phase of development while leaving the remaining three villages—Bhovapur, Shahpur Nijmorta, and Morta—out of the current plans.
The decision to exclude the three villages, however, has raised concerns among farmers in those areas. Residents and farmers have raised objections to the proposed rates for land purchases, which they argue do not reflect the market value. Circle rates—the government-determined minimum prices for land—differ significantly between the villages, with some rates as low as ₹500 per square metre and others reaching ₹5000 per square metre. Farmers, including Daksh Nagar from Raghunathpur, have voiced dissatisfaction with these discrepancies, arguing that the rates do not reflect the true value of their land. Nagar highlighted the farmers’ demand for a uniform rate across all villages, one that aligns more closely with the prevailing market rates. “If the rates are not adjusted to reflect market values, we may refuse to sell our land,” he warned.
The GDA has suggested that the three villages could be included in the second phase of the Harnandipuram scheme. This phase-wise approach is seen as a way to manage the complexities of land acquisition, which can involve extensive negotiations, legal hurdles, and, in some cases, resistance from local communities. GDA vice-chairperson Atul Vats has clarified that there has been no official decision to drop the three villages altogether. Instead, they will be incorporated into the project at a later stage. “The whole scheme will be notified, and the demands raised by farmers will be resolved in due course,” Vats stated, emphasising that the project is intended to proceed as planned, albeit in stages.
As the GDA moves ahead with the first phase of land acquisitions, the next steps involve resolving the objections raised by farmers and finalising the rates for land purchases. District Magistrate Deepak Meena, who chaired a recent meeting on the issue, stated that the committee would soon determine fair compensation, taking into account both circle rates and market prices. With land acquisition set to continue in the five chosen villages, the success of the Harnandipuram housing project will hinge on the resolution of farmer objections and the fair settlement of land prices. As Ghaziabad continues its urbanisation journey, the challenge of balancing development with the concerns of local communities remains a key consideration for the GDA and district administration. While the project’s first phase progresses, the broader vision of Harnandipuram as a thriving residential area depends on the cooperation of all stakeholders, ensuring that both farmers’ rights and the city’s growth ambitions are harmoniously addressed.
