Protests against land acquisition
Haryana government wants to acquire 1,800 acres of land near IMT to form IMT-2. Villagers are opposing it.Industrial Welfare Association of Manesar and villagers have formed an organization "Upjaoo Bhoomi Sanrakhsan Andolan" which is against rapid industrialization of fertile land and way below market rate of their lands which Government is giving them.Over the period of time agricultural production in the greater Manesar area has dipped substantially. A report prepared by the industrial association and the farmers organization, Fertile Land Protection Movement (FLPM), shows that if the remaining 6,000 acres are acquired by the HSIIDC for industrial development, the region will lose around 14,000 tonnes of food grains.
The report suggests that industrial habitation should be allowed only on land which does not produce more than one crop, whereas the land in Manesar produces at least three major crops twice a year. The soil in Manesar is very fertile and quite suitable for agriculture as it is very loose, said a representative of FLPM.
Beside the loss of food grain, very sizable losses in the production of fruits and vegetables are also expected. The land produces around 9,000 tonnes of vegetables, and over 11,000 tonnes of various fruits.Farmers of manesar fear it will be lost.Industrialists say that when Present IMT is in extreme bad shape and half empty then why Government is showing hurry in acquiring this land.
Irrigation and Forest Minister Ajay Singh Yadav, an Ahir leader, the MLA from Rewari is against the acquisition of land by the government. Also according to locals Manesar is home to around seven water reservoirs which flow directly into the Sultanpur Lake via natural channels and conduits. But the protesters claim that the water flow to the lake has been disrupted due to the unplanned industrial development, which has formed a blockade and impedes the natural flow of water during the rains.