Delhi's rural residents protest at Jantar Mantar over unresolved issues
Real Estate

Delhi's rural residents protest at Jantar Mantar over unresolved issues

Residents from rural areas of Delhi organised a demonstration at Jantar Mantar to express their frustration over unresolved issues related to infrastructure and land. The mahapanchayat included participants from all 360 villages in Delhi and several neighboring Haryana villages. They presented ten demands, such as tax exemptions, amendments to the land pooling policy, and the transformation of Delhi's villages into smart villages.

Chaudhary Surender Solanki, the head of Palam 360 Khap and leader of the protest, stated that rural communities have made significant contributions to Delhi's development but are currently being neglected. He mentioned that Delhi's villages have become neither fully urban nor rural but resemble slum areas. He criticised the continuous indifference of successive governments towards the long-standing issues of the rural population, saying that it was no longer acceptable.

The protesters cautioned that they might boycott the state polls if their demands are not met before the Delhi assembly elections. Solanki pointed out that they had been raising these issues with the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of Delhi for over a year. However, apart from addressing a few minor concerns, most of the problems remain unresolved. He emphasised that this time they were prepared for a decisive fight and demanded a permanent solution to all their issues, with respect.

Among the mahapanchayat's demands were the resumption of land mutation processes in Delhi's villages, granting land ownership rights to poor farmers, and providing alternative plots for those whose lands were acquired by the government. Other demands included implementing the ownership scheme under the Swamitva Yojana without stamp duty, notifying the 2041 Master Plan, amending the land pooling policy, and developing the villages into smart villages.

The protesters also called for the repeal of sections 33 and 81 of the Delhi Land Reforms Act of 1954, which restrict construction on their land. Solanki argued that there are several flaws in this Act, including the possibility of transferring a farmer's land to the gram sabha if they build a single room on their field. He also highlighted the deteriorating conditions in Delhi's rural areas, such as poorly maintained roads and the lack of basic infrastructure. Many villages lack proper sewage systems, and the roads are filled with potholes, making life unbearable for the residents. Despite their significant contribution to the development of Delhi, their villages are treated worse than slums. He set a 15-day deadline for the Delhi government to address their demands.

Residents from rural areas of Delhi organised a demonstration at Jantar Mantar to express their frustration over unresolved issues related to infrastructure and land. The mahapanchayat included participants from all 360 villages in Delhi and several neighboring Haryana villages. They presented ten demands, such as tax exemptions, amendments to the land pooling policy, and the transformation of Delhi's villages into smart villages. Chaudhary Surender Solanki, the head of Palam 360 Khap and leader of the protest, stated that rural communities have made significant contributions to Delhi's development but are currently being neglected. He mentioned that Delhi's villages have become neither fully urban nor rural but resemble slum areas. He criticised the continuous indifference of successive governments towards the long-standing issues of the rural population, saying that it was no longer acceptable. The protesters cautioned that they might boycott the state polls if their demands are not met before the Delhi assembly elections. Solanki pointed out that they had been raising these issues with the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of Delhi for over a year. However, apart from addressing a few minor concerns, most of the problems remain unresolved. He emphasised that this time they were prepared for a decisive fight and demanded a permanent solution to all their issues, with respect. Among the mahapanchayat's demands were the resumption of land mutation processes in Delhi's villages, granting land ownership rights to poor farmers, and providing alternative plots for those whose lands were acquired by the government. Other demands included implementing the ownership scheme under the Swamitva Yojana without stamp duty, notifying the 2041 Master Plan, amending the land pooling policy, and developing the villages into smart villages. The protesters also called for the repeal of sections 33 and 81 of the Delhi Land Reforms Act of 1954, which restrict construction on their land. Solanki argued that there are several flaws in this Act, including the possibility of transferring a farmer's land to the gram sabha if they build a single room on their field. He also highlighted the deteriorating conditions in Delhi's rural areas, such as poorly maintained roads and the lack of basic infrastructure. Many villages lack proper sewage systems, and the roads are filled with potholes, making life unbearable for the residents. Despite their significant contribution to the development of Delhi, their villages are treated worse than slums. He set a 15-day deadline for the Delhi government to address their demands.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Meghalaya And Assam Hold Talks To End Transport Stoppages In Garo Hills

Meghalaya and Assam have opened talks aimed at ending recent stoppages of commodity transport in the Garo Hills, officials said. The deputy chief minister, in charge of home affairs, reported that both state governments are coordinating to resolve disruptions and to restore normal movement of goods. He acknowledged that misunderstandings may have contributed to the incidents and that clarification between administrative units is under way. The discussions are intended to produce practical arrangements that will allow consignments to move without hindrance while respecting local procedures. The..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Kochi Metro Records 1.375 mn Rise In Passengers In FY26

Kochi Metro recorded a marginal rise in ridership in the financial year 2025-26, carrying 1.375 mn more passengers than in the previous year. The service carried 36.8 million (mn) passengers in 2025-26 compared with 35.5 mn in 2024-25, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.9 per cent. The growth was described as distributed rather than concentrated in isolated spikes. A month-wise analysis shows steady gains across quarters. In the first quarter, ridership increased from 8.57 mn to 8.84 mn, while the second quarter rose from 9.13 mn to 9.51 mn. These trends indicated broad-based improvemen..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Ghaziabad Plans 16km Metro Link To Delhi Via Hindon Airport

Ghaziabad authorities are pursuing a 16 km metro link to Delhi that will run via Hindon Airport, and a detailed project report is under way. The plan is intended to improve connectivity between Ghaziabad and the national capital and to provide an interchange with the airport. Officials said the project is being studied to assess alignments, station locations and cost estimates ahead of formal approvals and tendering. The announcement follows the inauguration of the Delhi?Faridabad metro extension, which will offer hassle free travel for around 0.2 mn daily commuters between the national capita..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement