GHAZIABAD: Farmers are furious after the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) requested the stamp and registry department to refrain from increasing the DM circle rates— the minimum value set by the district magistrate for property transactions — for villages designated for the Harnandipuram township.
This has reignited farmer protests, as they had previously called for an increase in the DM circle rate, which is crucial for determining stamp duty and registration fees.
“A protest is already underway in these villages, and the GDA’s letter has only intensified the situation. We are determined to protect our land for our children’s future,” said Daksh Nagar, a farmer from Mathurapur village.
The GDA’s letter indicates that a hike in the DM circle rate for Mathurapur, Shamsher, Champatnagar, Bhanera-Khurd, and Nangla Feroze Mohan Nagar would adversely impact land acquisition and inflate development costs for the township, which falls under the CM Urban Expansion New City Promotion Scheme.
The estimated cost of land acquisition stands at Rs 2,384 crore, which includes 7% stamp duty and a 1% registration fee.
According to Mathurapur resident Daksh Nagar, “The GDA’s actions are unjust. In their effort to stabilize land rates, they are behaving unconstitutionally. I can’t understand why the stamp and registry department would comply with such a request. The DM circle rate was revised only last year.”
Indrapal Choudhary from Nangla village stated, “The stamp and registry department is currently inviting public objections to the new DM circle rate until September 30, and we will voice our concerns for a revised rate.”
A GDA official noted, “The GDA is not only targeting villages for Harnandipuram township; they have also requested to freeze rates for other villages — Makramatpur Sikroad, Noornagar, Morti, Attor, Bhowapur, Morta, and Shahpur Nij Morta — where land acquisition is required for Master Plan 2031.”
“In our letter, we cited land rates in the NCR, indicating that Noida, Greater Noida, and Yamuna authorities pay farmers between Rs 3,500/sqm to Rs 5,200/sqm, whereas we are offering significantly more,” the official added.
On September 2, the GDA Board approved a proposal for land acquisition under the Land Acquisition (Rehabilitation & Resettlement) Act, 2013.
According to the Act, land in rural areas will be valued at four times the DM circle rate, while parcels in urban clusters or municipal areas will be evaluated at twice the circle rate.
A GDA official commented, “Since March, GDA has acquired only 14 hectares of land through mutually agreed rates, with the acquisition of an additional 6 hectares currently in process. We still need to acquire 470 hectares, and the slow pace indicates we might struggle to meet timelines for Harnandipuram township using the current method. Hence, the board approved the proposal for acquisition according to the Land Acquisition Act.”
In total, Mathurapur is set to have 14 hectares acquired, while from Shamsher village, 86 hectares, 33 hectares from Champatnagar, 9 hectares from Bhanera-Khurd, and 192 hectares from Nangla Feroze Mohan Nagar are earmarked for acquisition.
