Farmer claims park with Taj view, raises fences

AGRA: Gyarah Sidi Park , an iconic spot across the Yamuna in Agra that provides a picturesque sunset view of Taj Mahal, is at the centre of a land dispute. Local farmer Munna Lal has claimed a chunk of the park as his own. A native of Nagla Devjit, Kachhpura, he insists he has won a “four-decade-long court battle for six bighas of ancestral land within the park”.

Lal has ploughed the land with a tractor, raised fences and barricades, and declared it off-limits to public. Lal said his father and uncle were “registered cultivators” of the plot and it was lost to the urban ceiling action in 1976. District court documents from 1998 and 2020 confirm “transfer of ownership” to Lal.

Agra divisional commissioner Ritu Maheshwari said the land falls within Agra Development Authority ’s jurisdiction. “Recent developments are being probed,” she said.

M y family has fought a 40-year legal battle to secure this land. We’ve court orders and legal papers. In 2020, the office of the sub-divisional magistrate asserted our ownership over the land. This is also registered in revenue records,” Munna Lal told TOIon Monday.

The park, managed by ADA and adjacent to the historic Mehtab Bagh, has been the focal point of various proposals, from hosting cultural events and beautification initiatives to plans for a museum. The ADA’s vision for the park was to transform it into a vibrant entertainment zone and cultural hub, providing a unique experience for locals and tourists alike.

“Development of a theme park and entertainment zone along with a cultural activity zone at Garah Sidi near the Taj view point will create a lively recreational space that celebrates cultural heritage, offers diverse entertainment options, and enhances the visitor experience, making the area a vibrant and attractive destination for both locals and tourists (sic),” reads aportion in the ADA website.

The park hosted the Taj Mahotsav cultural festival in 2023 and a concert by Greek composer Yanni in 1997. It is also home to an ancient observation structure, the Gyarah Sidi, believed to have been used by Mughal emperor Humayun as an observatory. Shakeel Chauhan, national general secretary of Tourist Guides’ Federation of India, said, “The park was a place to witness Taj in its full glory at sunset. This development puts a question mark over its future.”