By SUNIL Sonkar

Aligarh, August 17 — The Mayawati government Tuesday decided to hike 20 percent in the price that is offered to the farmers as compensation for land acquired for a township along the Taj Expressway after facing protests.

In the early hours of Tuesday, a top state officials team led by state cabinet secretary Sashankh Sekhar Singh along with Mayawati government ministers held parleys with Ram Babu, the farmer leader, at the Aligarh airstrip.

Satender Veer Singh, senior Superintendent of Police, Aligarh, said:: “The package offered by the state government includes the provision of raising the compensation price offered to the farmers to Rs 570 per square metre (about 20 per cent higher than the earlier price).”

The farmer leaders are expected to place this new offer of the Mayawati government before the kisan panchayat at the dharna site.

Ram Babu, currently under arrest and at a private nursing home after complain of discomfort, may be produced today before a judicial magistrate.

State government also decides of setting up high-level committee under divisional commissioner to review other issues in the matter.

On Monday, the opposition top leaders addressed the mahapanchayat and extended support to the farmers.