Noida: Even as Noida International Airport was inaugurated on Monday, the issue of employment for families affected by land acquisition for the project remains unresolved. A group of affected residents has been protesting for several months, demanding jobs directly with the project’s concessionaire rather than through private contractors.Saurabh Sharma, a resident of Banwaripur village, said his family lost 10 acres of land to the project in 2019. “Officials assured affected families that beneficiaries would get employment opportunities. I have been waiting since then, but no job has been offered. Now we are being told that employment will be provided through contractors. We want stable jobs directly with the concessionaire, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL),” he said.Sharma, who holds an MTech degree in automobile engineering, said he has remained unemployed for several years. Under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, affected families are entitled to rehabilitation measures, including skill development and employment opportunities or compensation.Sharma said the job seekers had been protesting at Kishorpur temple, but the demonstration was called off on Sunday night after village elders urged them not to continue the protest on the day of the airport’s inauguration. “We have decided to meet officials of the Yamuna Authority and the airport on Wednesday,” Sharma said.The airport project required large-scale land acquisition across several villages in the Jewar region. Authorities acquired around 1,334 hectares in the first phase and another 1,365 hectares in the second phase, while an additional 2,053 hectares are expected to be acquired in the third and fourth phases.During the first two phases, about 334 families opted for employment instead of monetary compensation under the rehabilitation provisions linked to land acquisition. However, several affected residents allege that the promised jobs have not materialised.Addressing the issue in an interview with TOI, vice-chairman of the airport, Christoph Schnellmann, said the airport operates in partnership with 80 to 90 firms across different sectors. “We have identified leading companies in each field that bring expertise and experience to the project. Many of these are large national and global firms employing thousands of people. Our aim is to match those seeking employment at the airport with the appropriate partner company based on their qualifications, experience and preferred area of work,” Schnellmann said.
