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MUMBAI, India - The 2011 Indian F1 GP circuit has made millionaires out of former subsistance farmers who sold their land to make way for the track but now they're unhappy about how their lives have changed.
Sanjay Singh and his family said they were content with their piece of land from which they harvested cucumbers, vegetables and other crops but their means of livelihood is now gone.
"We sold our land for the organisers of the race. We got money but it was a raw deal. We are building a new house and we have a car but we are not happy because our means of livelihood -- farming has been snatched away," Singh told AFP.
Construction of the R2.3-billion circuit 80km from New Delhi will host the first Indian GP on October 30 but, the farmers say, has turned their lives upside down.
Singh's compensation was believed to be the equivalent of R760 000 according to a senior village official.
ILL-WILL AMONG VILLAGERS
Singh said there was "ill-will among the villagers" because of jealousy and suspicion. "Even in the families, sons are fighting over their share of money. They are giving up on their studies as think they have enough money to last a lifetime. They roam around the whole day drinking beer and picking petty fights."
Fights over land had taken place as companies and governments looked for space for new industrial projects.
The existing Land Acquisition Act from 1894 allowed the government to acquire land for projects "in the public interest" such as hospitals, roads and schools. Farmers complained they were pushed off their land unfairly while businesses said industrial projects that would provide jobs for local people were being held up.
UNEQUAL BENEFITS
Not everybody made money out of the land purchases. Bihari Lal did not own land; he tilled the plots of other land-owners. "We knew only farming but the farms are gone. We have had to switch to construction work. Those who got money strut around in gold chains and drive fancy cars. We are stuck in the same misery."
The track builders, the Jaypee Group, dispelled notions of wrongdoing, stating that "mutually agreed compensation" was paid to the farmers.
F1 bosses are about to visit the Buddh circuit for an inspection. The track looks ready to host the race but a lot of work remains.
Himanshu Mehra said he made the trip from West Delhi to get a look at the track.
"It can't get bigger than having an F1 race of our own," he said, "but some of our enthusiasm has gone after looking around this place. You have exotic backdrops for races the world over, be it Yas Marina or Monza."
Sanjay Singh and his family said they were content with their piece of land from which they harvested cucumbers, vegetables and other crops but their means of livelihood is now gone.
"We sold our land for the organisers of the race. We got money but it was a raw deal. We are building a new house and we have a car but we are not happy because our means of livelihood -- farming has been snatched away," Singh told AFP.
Construction of the R2.3-billion circuit 80km from New Delhi will host the first Indian GP on October 30 but, the farmers say, has turned their lives upside down.
Singh's compensation was believed to be the equivalent of R760 000 according to a senior village official.
ILL-WILL AMONG VILLAGERS
Singh said there was "ill-will among the villagers" because of jealousy and suspicion. "Even in the families, sons are fighting over their share of money. They are giving up on their studies as think they have enough money to last a lifetime. They roam around the whole day drinking beer and picking petty fights."
Fights over land had taken place as companies and governments looked for space for new industrial projects.
The existing Land Acquisition Act from 1894 allowed the government to acquire land for projects "in the public interest" such as hospitals, roads and schools. Farmers complained they were pushed off their land unfairly while businesses said industrial projects that would provide jobs for local people were being held up.
UNEQUAL BENEFITS
Not everybody made money out of the land purchases. Bihari Lal did not own land; he tilled the plots of other land-owners. "We knew only farming but the farms are gone. We have had to switch to construction work. Those who got money strut around in gold chains and drive fancy cars. We are stuck in the same misery."
The track builders, the Jaypee Group, dispelled notions of wrongdoing, stating that "mutually agreed compensation" was paid to the farmers.
F1 bosses are about to visit the Buddh circuit for an inspection. The track looks ready to host the race but a lot of work remains.
Himanshu Mehra said he made the trip from West Delhi to get a look at the track.
"It can't get bigger than having an F1 race of our own," he said, "but some of our enthusiasm has gone after looking around this place. You have exotic backdrops for races the world over, be it Yas Marina or Monza."