Gautam Budh Nagar Administration Initiates Land Acquisition for Sector 151 Golf Course Project Amid Farmers' Objections

The Gautam Budh Nagar administration has initiated a land acquisition process for a golf course project in Sector 151 along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. The development project, which had been halted due to farmers refusing to sell their land, has now reached a critical stage where the district administration’s assistance is being sought.

The social impact survey for approximately five acres of land, located in Kambakshpur village, has been completed. According to the administration, it is expected to complete the land acquisition within the next six months. The land required for the project is primarily owned by farmers who have not agreed to sell. However, the Noida authority has already acquired more than 70% of the land required for the golf course, and thus, the need to seek the farmers' consent is not necessary under the provisions of the Land Act 2013-14.

The halted progress of the project had prompted the Noida authority to seek the help of the district administration. The acquisition process is being pursued using the legal provisions available under the Land Act, which bypasses the requirement for farmers’ consent. Bachchu Singh, the Additional District Magistrate for Land and Acquisition, emphasized that the social impact assessment survey has been completed, and public hearings will be held to allow farmers to voice their opinions.

“Once this process related to the social impact survey is completed, and farmers’ views are heard, we will invite objections under Section 15 of the Land Act. Farmers can then file their objections if any, against the land acquisition. We expect the process to be completed in a timely manner as we are already in the advanced stages,” said Singh.

The land acquisition process will be followed by a series of legal and procedural steps. A public hearing will be held in the affected village where residents will be informed about the date, time, and place of the hearing. The district administration intends to hear the concerns of the affected farmer families during this phase. Afterward, the social impact survey report will be published, offering transparency and helping landowners understand the process and impact.

The project is intended to develop a 90-acre golf course, a 20-acre adventure sports facility, and a 10-acre heliport, with an estimated budget of ₹90 crore. The original design for the golf course was approved in February 2020 by the Noida authority during its 198th board meeting. However, there have been some changes to the project’s features in order to meet international standards, and as a result, the project’s budget has increased. The authority had initially planned the project in partnership with a private company but faced setbacks when farmers refused to sell their land.

A Noida authority official mentioned that the refusal of farmers to sell their land had delayed the project significantly. "We tried to talk to the farmers whose land is in the way of the golf course, but they refused to give us the land. As a result, we had to turn to the Gautam Budh Nagar administration for assistance in acquiring the land," the official explained, preferring not to be named.

One of the farmers from Kambakshpur, Kapil Singh, shared his perspective on the issue. "We do not have any issue with giving the land to the Noida authority, but the compensation they are offering is far too low compared to the market rate. If the authority does not offer a fair price, we will voice our disagreement during the social impact survey process," Singh said.

The development of the golf course is seen as an important project in terms of enhancing the infrastructure of the region and creating a world-class facility. The Noida authority aims to create a destination that caters to international standards while contributing to the region’s economy.

Despite the ongoing disputes over land acquisition, the authorities are hopeful that the legal and procedural processes will resolve the issues in the coming months. The goal is to complete the golf course project and associated facilities within the designated timeline, contributing significantly to Noida's growth and infrastructure development.