VIJAYAWADA: Sitting in the shade of a big tree at Anjaneya Swamy Centre in Pedaparimi village of Tullur mandal in Guntur district, Namburu Venkata Rao, in his early fifties, was seen discussing the latest decision of the State government to acquire 4,000 acres more land for the capital city development.
He is set to lose 5.30 acres of his land for Amaravati-Anantapur Expressway and worried about the low-price being offered be the government as compensation.
“What is being offered is between Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakh while the current going price of those lands is anywhere between Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1 crore per acre,” he told Express.
He said he had two parcels of farmland and now both of them would have to be given to Amaravati-Anantapur Expressway.
“Since there is no stopping to it, why should we object. Instead, what we are asking is either pay Rs 1 crore per acre or take our lands under land pooling scheme and provide all the benefits that are being given to the farmers who have given their lands under LPS for the capital,” he said.
P Srinivas Rao, another farmer, who is set to lose his one acre of the four acres land for the inner ring road too is of the same opinion.
“What is the point of us cultivating bits and pieces of the land in the village, which will be crisscrossed by several roads, not small but big ones. Most of the farmlands will be taken up for them so our best chance to gain something would be from pooling our lands for the capital,” he reasoned.
It was not first time that farmers of the village had offered their lands for the capital city under land pooling scheme. When the capital city project was announced and the government came up with LPS, many villagers hope that it would benefit them as their village is located on uplands and the prices at that time were not much. An acre of the land used to cost anywhere between Rs 8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh at that time.
Though the situation has changed, the village along with two other villages -- Vadlamanu and Harishchandrapuram in Thullur mandal -- was included in the notified area of 217 sqkm for the capital city - Amaravati. In the last three years, the land price has increased to anywhere between Rs 70 lakh to Rs 1.8 crore.
However, there are still few farmers who are apprehensive about parting with their lands. “What is the hurry to give away all our lands. We should adopt wait and watch policy. Chandrababu Naidu government is yet to make any visible development and they are only talking. So I prefer to wait and watch,” he said.
It was obvious that he was with the political faction opposing the land pooling --YSRC. He admits the same.
In another part of the village, two marginal farmers sitting on cement bench under the shade of tree looked curiously when Express approached them.
They said that when the big farmers of the village decided to give their lands, others would naturally follow them.
“We own less than one acre of land. Unlike those lands near the banks of Krishna, irrigating and cultivating our lands is tough. When we get a chance to make a fortune, why should we hesitate,” said Isaac, with his friend Maredaiah nodding his head in agreement.
They said the decision was long coming as Kammas in the village, who wanted to have the village part of the capital were lobbying for long. Another reason is being that most of the Reddys in the village having their lands in purview of capital had benefited from the land pooling scheme.
In Vadlamanu, another village, where farmers are willing to part with their land under LPS, A Merubabu, who is getting his who is getting his tractor ready for tilling his three acres of land said most of the villages are willing to give their lands.
“We too will be losing our lands for roads and other development project now or in future. What is point of waiting that long. Since it would take time, we will continue cultivating our lands,” he said.
Echoing the sentiment, G Venkata Reddy of the same village said they have to wait as no official has come. “All we got is information from the newspapers and TV channels. No officials information has come. However, we are seeing surveyors going around our farms taking measurements. When they are ready, we will decide,” he said.
Seven kilometers from Vadlamanu on the banks of Krishna, tilling his 8 acres for cultivating Marigold for festival season of Dasara and Deepavali, Sk Jaan Sayeed of Harishchandrapuram village said he had taken five more acres on lease in addition to his 3 acres.
“However, I am more than willing to part with my land. Cultivating has lost its charm as there is no remunerative price for what we cultivate. Irrespective of the crop we grow, at the end of the day, we suffer losses. What is the point than of continuing with this. I am ready so are many in the village,” he said.
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State Government contemplating to land pool another Rs 14,000 acres of land.
Majority of the farmers of three villages - Pedaparimi, Vadlamanu and Harishchandrapuram willing to give their lands under LPS.
Pedaparimi is to lose lands for Amaravati-Anantapur Expressway, Inner Ring Road and other road projects.
Vadlamanu is to lose land for Inner Ring Road
Rs 90 lakh - Rs 1 crore is the going price per acre in the Pedaparimi and Vadlamanu according to villagers.
All the three villages border the notified area of the capital city.