Raipur, Sep 10 - Chhattisgarh Thursday announced incentive of 5-20 percent to farmers to speed up land acquisition process for a 8,000-hectare mega city near here that will be the new state capital.

'Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA), which is directly purchasing land at competitive rates from farmers, has announced 5-20 percent incentives to plot holders in a bid to complete total land takeover by the year-end,' an NRDA official told IANS.

Naya Raipur, located 20 km southeast of here, is to be completed within next two-three years. The eco-friendly city will be connected to Raipur by an expressway.

'We are already in possession of 5,977 hectares of land - 3,200 hectares purchased from the farmers and 2,777 hectares of government land. But we have decided to provide five percent incentive on the compensation amount to farmers whose land was acquired in 2007-08, 10 percent to those who handed over land in 2008-09 and 20 percent incentive till Dec 31 of current fiscal year,' the official said.

Chief Minister Raman Singh told IANS: 'Naya Raipur will be the flag bearer of a resurgent Chhattisgarh.