NOIDA: Hundreds of farmers have been protesting for the last seven days over several demands, including increased compensation and a sports complex at proposed waste to energy plant in Sector 123.A delegation led by the Noida SP, Noida Authority OSD and city magistrate called the farmers for a meeting in the Noida board room. However, the farmers refused a ‘closed door’ meeting and decided to continue with their protest. The protest in front of the Authority office hindered traffic movement and office work.Sukhveer Pehalwan, a farmer leader and resident of Sarfabad village, said that the farmers demand increased compensation. “Noida Authority had acquired our land for different projects. The farmers were given compensation and 5% land at relocated site. Later in 2012, a group of farmers moved to demanding increased compensation. The court directed Noida Authority to pay 64.7% additional compensation and 10% land. Noida Authority gave increased compensation to some farmers whose land were acquired. However, a large number of farmers have been waiting for the increased compensation and land as per court directions,” he said.The Authority has also notified some villages for land acquisition in future. Rajendra Yadav, another protester, said that Noida has issued notices to several farm owners against construction on the earmark land. “The farmers do not want to give land. We demand the Noida Authority to take back its notices,” he said. Sources said that only the petitioners who had moved to court were given increased compensation. The farmers also demanded the Authority to develop a sports complex and a government degree college at the proposed waste to energy site in Sector 123. Noida had to postpone that project following massive protest by local residents in June last year. Rajesh Kumar Singh, OSD Noida Authority, said that the farmers have refused a deliberation on the issue. “There are some demands which could be addressed at the government level. We are trying to resolve the issue,” he said.For the last seven days, the farmers gather on the spot with drums and loudspeakers and disperse in the evening. Pehalwan said that the protesters would again gather on Tuesday and lock Authority’s main gate if their demands were not met.

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