Farmers demand helicopter from administration in Ujjain:No service roads or underpasses on Ujjain-Garoth Highway; farmers blocked from reaching their fields

I have sown a wheat crop. Due to the express-way, the field is divided into two parts. To go to both places, I have to pass through the fields of neighboring farmers. For this, I pay them Rs. 5-5 thousand as rent. If, tomorrow they refuse, what will I do? Asking this question, the voice of Rohit, a farmer from Untesara village, becomes sharp. In fact, this is not just Rohit’s problem, but dozens of farmers in villages around the Ujjain-Garoth Highway are facing the same problem. The construction of the highway started three years ago, and now 90 percent of the work has been completed. The National Highway Authority neither built a service road nor an underpass along the highway. Because of this, farmers cannot go to their fields. They have applied to the Tehsildar, SDM, and Collector many times for a path. Complaints were also made to the CM Helpline, and when there was no hearing, farmers here demanded a helicopter from the administration to reach their fields. After this demand from the farmers, this problem has once again come into the limelight. Are farmers really unable to reach their fields? Is the demand for a helicopter just a way to grab headlines, or are farmers genuinely troubled? To find answers to these questions, the Bhaskar team visited villages adjacent to the Ujjain-Garoth Expressway, and the pictures that emerged raise serious questions about claims of development. Expressed helplessness by demanding a helicopter
Mansingh Rajoria has a field in Untesara village, about 14 kilometers from Ujjain, but calling it a field might not be appropriate anymore. It is a barren piece of land, looking like a barren island amidst the lush green wheat fields nearby. Not a single grain has been sown in this field for the last three years. The reason? The magnificent Ujjain-Garoth Expressway passes right in front of the field. Recently, Mansingh came into the limelight when he submitted a memorandum to the Ghatitya SDM. The memorandum stated, ‘There is no way to get out of my field. Therefore, I should be provided with a helicopter so that I can bring seeds and fertilizer from the market and sow them in the field, and take the crop to the market when it ripens, so that my family can be fed.’ This unique demand from a farmer created a stir in administrative circles. Officials were stunned and gave a rehearsed answer that ‘The problem will be resolved.’ Mansingh said – now it’s time to eat poison
When our team reached Mansingh’s field, his elderly father, Ramlal Rajoria, and mother, Gitabai, were also with him. Mansingh’s eyes welled up as he showed the barren field. He said, ‘Look at this, there has been no crop here for three years. We need a tractor for plowing, but where is the way to bring it? A 15-foot wall (fencing) has been erected in front of the field. You tell me, how can we go with a tractor?’ Mansingh further said, ‘We told the administration that if they can’t give us a path, then give us a helicopter. We also know they can’t do that, but what else can we do? We just want a path. The promise was for a service road, in reality, they got ‘No Entry’
This is not Mansingh’s only story. This is the pain of every farmer whose land is alongside this expressway. Rajendra Singh Chauhan, former sarpanch of Untesra village, whose field also adjoins the expressway, explains the seriousness of the situation. He said that when this road was being built, officials had promised to build service roads on both sides. Space was also left for this. Rajendra Singh says, ‘The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) fenced off the area that was left for the service road and handed over the land in between to the forest department for planting saplings. No service road was built at all. Now, if we talk about removing the fencing, the officials threaten to file an FIR against us.’ Rented paths to reach fields
The story of farmer Rohit, who is suffering from the lack of a service road, shows how heavily this problem is weighing on his pocket. Rohit says, “I had 9 bighas of land. Due to the expressway, the land was divided into two parts. On one side, there are two bighas of land, with no way to access it. There are two farmers’ fields nearby, after which comes the village road.” The wheat crop has just been sown, but to get to the field, I have to ask for a path from both neighbors. Why should they give a path from their crop? I talked to them, and now I give 5 thousand rupees to both landowners for every crop; only then do I get a way to reach my own land. What will I do if they refuse tomorrow? This road has completely blocked our paths.” Fields divided, old paths closed
Former Sarpanch Rajendra Singh further explains that the expressway not only snatched away access to fields but also destroyed the old connecting roads of the villages. He said, “Our fields have been divided into two parts. The road passed through the middle. The situation is such that there is no path to go from one part of the field to the other. The old rural paths were also closed during road construction.” Officials had promised to connect the underpass with the service road so that farmers could easily cross to the other side of the road. But the work was completed, tolls started being collected, and the promise of the service road remained unfulfilled. The result is that many farmers have stopped going to their land on the other side of the road, and many fields lie barren. Land given for development, awaiting compensation
The story of farmer Vikram highlights another dark aspect of this project. He says, “I had a total of three bighas of land. One and a half bighas went into the road, for which I received compensation. But I am not getting the remaining one and a half bighas of land. That land should have been on the other side of the road, but someone else has occupied it. When I complained to the officials, they said, ‘Apply at the tehsil office.’ I have been visiting the tehsil office for three years, but I haven’t received my remaining land. This road has ruined me.” Officials said – we are looking for a solution to the problem
When officials were contacted regarding this matter, their responses were very formal. SDM Rajaram Karjare of Ghatia Tehsil said – An application has been received from Mansingh regarding the demand for a helicopter. His main demand is for the construction of a road to his field. The farmer had also applied to the Tehsildar previously. We are resolving the problem. Meanwhile, NHAI Project Director Rahul Jajoria says that a case has been received from the SDM. The farmer’s problem is genuine. We are resolving it.