NALGONDA: Farmers and police traded blows near the construction site of a reservoir at Charlagudem in Marriguda mandal on Monday causing panic in the area.According to police, farmers armed with bamboo sticks amassed at the construction spot demanding the works be stopped. The contractor called the police who tried to convince the farmers. According to the police version, the farmers first attacked the cops who retaliated with lathi-charge.
Ten farmers and some cops including Marriguda CI Balagangi Reddy were injured in the incident.
Fearing loss of their lands, the farmers decided to launch an agitation against the government’s Dindi Lift Irrigation project and expansion of the Charlagudem reservoir from 5 tmcft to 14.5 tmcft. About 14,594 acres of land was to be acquired for the same.
The government had agreed to pay a compensation amount of `4.15 lakh per acre but farmers are demanding more. They held a 100-day long relay hunger strike at the construction site and demanded compensation on par with oustees of the Mallanna Sagar project who got `8 to `12 lakh acre.
Recently, district collector Gaurav Uppal visited the spot and promised to enhance the compensation amount after holding discussions with the government.
Farmers demanded to stop the work until the increased compensation amount was announced. The collector had agreed to stop the works. However, works progressed on Monday, which the farmers alleged was in violation of the Collector’s orders.