Delhi Congress Demands ₹25 Crore Per Acre Compensation For Acquired Agricultural Land

New Delhi, August 7: The issue of agricultural land acquisition in Delhi has gained fresh attention after the Delhi Congress demanded a major increase in compensation for farmers whose land is acquired for public projects.

The party has proposed that acquired agricultural land should receive a minimum compensation of ₹25 crore per acre, arguing that current circle rates no longer reflect the true market value of farmland in and around Delhi.

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav said compensation based on outdated agricultural circle rates is leaving many farmer families under-compensated despite rising land prices, urban expansion and inflation.

The party has placed three key demands before Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu:

• Compensation of at least ₹25 crore per acre through an upward revision of agricultural circle rates.

• Allotment of an alternative plot to farmers whose land has been acquired or is proposed to be acquired.

• A government job for one member of each affected family within six months, subject to educational qualifications and eligibility.

According to the Congress, land acquisition affects not only property ownership but also the long-term livelihood of farming families. The party has therefore called for a broader rehabilitation framework rather than a compensation-only approach.

Yadav also said that employment opportunities for rural youth often become limited after agricultural land is acquired, making livelihood support an important part of rehabilitation.

The Congress has argued that compensation in many cases continues to be linked to old circle rates fixed years ago, even though farmland values have increased significantly because of infrastructure growth and urban development.

The demand is expected to draw attention from farmer groups across Delhi’s rural belt, where concerns over fair agricultural land compensation, rehabilitation and employment after land acquisition have remained recurring issues.

The proposal has been submitted to the Lieutenant Governor with a request to revise agricultural circle rates and create a compensation framework that is more closely aligned with current market conditions.

The Delhi government had not issued an immediate response to the demands at the time of publication.