Bharatiya Kishan Union Leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) raised questions over Satellite Township Projects in Bihar, asserting that the Union will not allow farmers’ land and rights to be compromised in the name of development.
Bihar government has prepared a blueprint for 11 satellite townshipss across 10 districts of Bihar. These townships will feature planned residential colonies, designated commercial areas, wide roads, and green spaces with plantations along roadsides and in parks.
Addressing a press conference in Patna, Mr. Tikait said that a review of this entire model suggests that unless transparency, social impact assessment, fair compensation, rehabilitation, and farmers’ consent are ensured in time, it could lead to the large-scale transfer of agricultural land and the promotion of land speculation under the guise of development.
He asserted that the Union is not opposed to development; however, development that comes at the cost of farmers losing their land, livelihoods, and social security cannot be accepted.
The Bihar government has announced plans to develop large-scale satellite townships in Patna, Darbhanga, Saran , Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Purnia, Sitamarhi, Munger, and Saharsa, in which lakhs of acres of land are being identified for these projects.
He pointed out that there are several significant objections in the Bihar Town Development Act, 2026, and the Act proposes granting excessive powers for the establishment, development, control, and management of cities.
“How will the new law uphold the protective provisions—regarding farmers’ interests, social impact assessment, consent, rehabilitation, and compensation—that already exist under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act, 2013), and the Bihar Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Rules, 2014,” Mr. Tikait asked.
He added, “Farmers’ land cannot be viewed merely as land for urban development; for a farmer, land is not just an asset but a source of livelihood, social security, and the economic foundation for future generations.”
Land pooling
Mr. Tikait mentioned that there are several questions surrounding the land pooling system, while the proposal involves acquiring farmers’ land and returning a portion of it to a developed State.
He asked, on what basis the returned land will be valued and what will be the location and quality of the land allocated to the farmer. He also asked what rights the farmer will have over that land. He added that in any land pooling arrangement, the farmer should be treated not merely as a land provider but as a genuine partner in the development process.
Mr. Tikait claimed that the law lacks a clear formula or specific mention regarding compensation in exchange for land. He also pointed out that the new law makes no provision for social audits or social impact assessments.
“If the government wishes to modernise Bihar, it is welcome to do so. However, a modern Bihar cannot mean making fertile village land available for large real estate projects. If agricultural land is gradually converted into real estate markets under the guise of satellite townships, the greatest loss will be borne by farmers and rural society,” Mr. Tikait said.
He informed that during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, a large number of people returned from cities to their villages, where the village and the land served as a foundation of security.
Key demands
He demanded that the Bihar Town Development Act, 2026, be scrapped and that Social Impact Assessments and Social Audits be made mandatory for every project.
He urged to refrain from diluting the farmer-friendly provisions of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013, regarding land acquisition and compensation. Also provide a legal guarantee over the land, its value, and the rights of farmers under land pooling schemes.
“A transparent pricing mechanism should be established to bridge the gap between circle rates and actual market values. Information regarding all proposals, land area, master plans, and land-use details concerning satellite townships should be made public,” Mr. Tikait added.
He warned that if these demands are not met within a month, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and all farmers’ organisations in Bihar will organise a massive farmers’ march in Patna in November 2026, where farmers will stage a sit-in protest until this law is withdrawn.
Published – October 08, 2026 03:01 am IST
