MP government backs down again before farmers:CM Mohan Yadav orders reduction in height of Ujjain Greenfield Corridor Road

Following discussions between the Chief Minister and farmers in Bhopal over the proposed Ujjain–Indore Greenfield Corridor Road, the state government has decided to lower the height of the project. After this assurance, farmers withdrew their protest. The government has also agreed in principle to increase the compensation payable to affected landowners. Nearly one thousand farmers opposing the Ujjain–Indore and Ujjain–Jaora Greenfield Roads had planned to reach Ujjain on Wednesday carrying rations and bedding. They were preparing to gherao the Collectorate with more than 150 tractor-trolleys and begin an indefinite sit-in. However, the Chief Minister invited farmer representatives for talks, marking the second recent instance in which the government has relented under pressure. Earlier, in the Ujjain land pooling case, the government had revised its decision after protests. Agreement reached on compensation Ujjain Collector Roshan Singh subsequently held a meeting with farmer leaders. He stated that eight villages in Ujjain district are directly affected by the proposed Indore–Ujjain Greenfield Road and described the discussions as positive. Following the Chief Minister’s meeting with farmer representatives, a broad agreement was also reached regarding enhanced compensation. Protest temporarily postponed Farmer leader Rajesh Solanki said preparations had been completed for an indefinite demonstration, but the agitation was postponed after the administration initiated dialogue. The Collector had assured that farmers affected by the Jaora–Ujjain Greenfield Road would receive compensation on par with those impacted by the Ujjain–Indore project. After the favourable outcome of the talks, farmer leaders advised others not to proceed to Ujjain for the protest. Farmers’ demands over connectivity and rates Farmers said they had been agitating for the past one and a half years over compensation concerns and the proposed access-controlled design of the elevated road. The corridor, planned at a height of 15 to 20 feet, would disrupt village connectivity, they argued. They have demanded that the road be constructed at ground level and that land be acquired at prevailing market rates. A total of 89 villages are affected by the two Greenfield Road projects, including 56 in Ujjain district, 20 in Indore district and 13 in Ratlam district.