Vikram Ditya Sharma/Ferozepur
Tension is brewing in three villages of this border district as farmers, under the banner of Azaad Kisan Morcha Punjab, have raised strong objections to the compensation being offered for land acquisition for the proposed Ferozepur–Patti rail link, warning of an agitation if their demands are not met.
The protest voices have emerged from villages Dulla Singh Wala, Kutubdin Wala and Kale ke Hither, where agricultural land is being acquired for the project. Addressing a press conference, Sukh Gill, State President of Bharti Kisan Union (Totewala), said that the compensation currently being offered—ranging between Rs 3.80 lakh and Rs 6.18 lakh per acre—is unacceptable to the farming community.
He asserted that the farmers are demanding a minimum compensation of Rs. 1 crore per acre, arguing that the existing rates do not reflect the true value of the land. “The project will not be allowed to proceed unless farmers are paid a fair price for their land,” Gill said, indicating a firm stand by the unions.
Echoing similar concerns, Davinder Singh, a marginal farmer from Kutubdin Wala, said that the farming community is already reeling under financial stress. Talking to the mediapersons, he pointed out that last year’s floods had devastated crops, pushing many farmers into debt. “If we lose our land at such low rates, it will become impossible for our families to survive. Land prices have increased significantly over the past few years, and compensation must reflect that reality,” he said.
The farmer leaders warned that in case their demands are ignored, protests will be intensified in the coming days. They indicated that demonstrations could be held outside railway stations and other central government offices, along with plans to gherao senior railway officials to press for their demands.