Power plants protest shows industry-farmer rift
Hundreds of stone-hurling farmers protested against the takeover of their land for two proposed power plants on Friday, police said, spotlighting challenges the country faces in building infrastructure.
January 21, 2011 / 17:57 IST
Hundreds of stone-hurling farmers protested against the takeover of their land for two proposed power plants on Friday, police said, spotlighting challenges the country faces in building infrastructure.
Similar protests have stalled road, power, mining and industrial projects across India that are needed to sustain the economy's near-9% expansion.They also highlight the debate between farm interests and industrialisation at a time when food production is not rising fast enough to keep up with quickening demand in Asia's third-largest economy.Police said 50 farmers were detained near Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh after they violently protested against land acquisition by Jaiprakash Associates for two thermal power plants.Two policemen were injured, officials said. A farmer present at the protest died, but local police chief Banwari Lal said the man died from heart failure.Highlighting a tough balancing act it faces, the ruling Congress party has said it will not jettison the interests of farmers, a significant political grouping in a country where close to 60% of the 1.2 billion population lives on agriculture. A bill to ease land acquisition by offering market prices is stuck in parliament.Last year, three farmers were killed in protests against a USD 2 billion six-lane highway in Uttar Pradesh, sparking off a disruption of parliament by angry lawmakers. Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
