Life was tough but simple not very long ago in Dankaur-Sarlarpur for farmer Sanjay Singh and his tight-knit family of six. They were content with their small piece of land on which they harvested cucumbers, vegetables and other crops. Not any more.

Construction of the new 350 million US dollar circuit outside New Delhi has turned their lives upside down. This circuit is set to host the first Indian Grand Prix on October 30.

"We sold away our land to the organisers of the race. We got the money in exchange, but it was a raw deal." Sanjay Singh says while supervising the construction of his new two-storey house in Dankaur-Sarlarpur village which overlooks the race circuit.

"We are building a new house and we have a car now, but we are not happy because our means of livelihood which was farming has been snatched away," the 49-year-old said. Around the dusty settlement of about 500 families, 50 miles from the capital, there are signs of construction as the newly wealthy improve their ramshackle homes.

Fights over land

The situation is typical right across India. Fights over land are taking place as companies and governments look for space for new industrial projects. The existing land acquisition act dating back to 1894 allows the government to acquire any piece of land for projects in the "public interest" such as hospitals, roads and schools. A new law has been promised but in the meantime perceived injustices over land acquisition flare up periodically.

Farmers complain they are being pushed off their land unfairly, while businessmen say that industrial projects that provide jobs for local people are being unnecessarily held up. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry said in a 2009 report that land disputes had stalled 133 projects in the country, holding up investments to the tune of 100 billion US dollars.

Resentment in the Village

Back in the village, the general feeling among the older generation is one of disillusionment because of the difficulties in adapting to the new lifestyle. And with money and aspirations have come frustrations - over the poor roads, the open sewage system, the intermittent electricity supply and the lack of proper schools or hospitals in the vicinity.

"We have a new dish antenna which beams as many as 200 channels," said Santo Devi, an elderly woman who lives in a spacious house where buffaloes share space with a shiny new car in the front courtyard. "But the problem is we can hardly watch TV because the electricity is only available for 3-4 hours a day. The government is allowing so much to be spent on racing cars but they have done nothing for the village."

Organisers busy

Builders of the facility, the privately-owned Jaypee group, have been quick to dispel any notion of wrongdoing, stating that "mutually agreed compensation" was paid to the farmers. It's work as usual for them at the site. Trucks and other heavy vehicles drive through the grime and dust, workers labour around the clock, and alert security personnel ensure unwanted visitors are kept out of the state-of-the art facility.

The frenzy is understandable as Formula One bosses are set to visit the track, named Buddh International Circuit, on August 3 for an inspection. The track looks likely to be ready to host the race, but there remains a lot of work to do. "We made the long trip from our homes in west Delhi to be able to get a look at the track," said Himanshu Mehra, a 24-year-old motorsport fan.

"It can't get bigger than having an F1 race of our own. But some of our enthusiasm has gone down after looking around this place. You have exotic backdrops for races the world over - be it Yas Marina or Monza. What will they show here? Buffaloes covered in mud?" he added.

AFP

Editor: Sachin Gaur