Farmers in Domri Village Face Eviction Amidst Municipal Corporation’s Tree Planting Initiative

The residents of Domri village in Uttar Pradesh are in conflict with the municipal corporation over land designated for a tree-planting project. The corporation plans to plant three lakh trees on 350 bighas of land on October 2nd, and has already begun preparations. The local farmers, many of whom have cultivated the land for generations, are resisting the corporation’s actions, claiming the land belongs to them. The farmers allege that they have been cultivating the land for three generations. They report that municipal authorities demolished homes, removed belongings, and used abusive language towards the residents. One resident, Kushal Kashyap, expressed disappointment, noting that despite the Prime Minister adopting the village in 2017, they haven’t seen any development and are now facing eviction. The Samajwadi Party has criticized the corporation’s decision, with MP Virendra Singh advocating for fair compensation before any tree planting occurs.