VISAKHAPATNAM: Land acquisition for various developmental works and industrialisation in the Yelamanchili and Pendurty Assembly segments is yielding adverse results to the Congress. With as many as 25,000 families in these segments getting effected due to the large-scale land acquisition during the five-year tenure of the Congress, there is widespread resentment in the air.
Adding fuel to fire, the Opposition parties are proclaiming that if the Congress comes to power, farmers in these segments will have a tough time as halfa- dozen mega projects are proposed by the Government.
According to statistics, the Government has collected about 40,000 acres of land for Multi-Product Special Economic Zone (MSEZ), Pharma City, Atomic Research Centre, NTPC expansion and new Naval Base from Atcutapuram, Munagapaka, Rambilli mandals of the Yelamanchili Assembly segment and also from Paravada and Sabbavaram mandals of the Pendurty Assembly constituency.
The people of these areas vehemently opposed the land acquisition and the Opposition parties launched a direct agitation programme. But, the Government stuck to its decision and went on acquiring land from the farmers. But now, angry farmers of these two segments are waiting for retaliation.
“I was a small farmer but now I’ve become a labourer due to the Congress Government which forcibly took our land for the Brandix Apparel City. The entire village had to be vacated, along with 1,000 acres of agricultural land, including our temples and tank. While acquiring the land, the government offered us a house site, financial assistance to construct it, a buffalo and a job to one member of each family during the land acquisition, but till now nothing has materialised,” lamented Desimchetti Ellayyanaidu of Dupputuru village in Atchutapuram mandal.
“Now that elections are here, we will teach the Congress party a lesson,” a group of farmers told this scribe. When asked about the Congress Government’s welfare schemes, they said only some people had benefitted.
The entire farming community in Yelamanchili and Rambilli is uncertain about the future.
Farmers like Chekka Dalinaidu, Rowthu Suryam and Megalla Rambrahmam of Yelamanchili are afraid their livelihood might get adversely affected if the information reaching them regarding proposals to establish an international airport, Nalco and several other industries in Payakaraopet and Yelamanchili mandals comes out to be true. "If that happens, we will not support the Congress in the elections,” they chorus.
Congress leaders in the villages are also apprehensive about getting support from the farmers.
“Though the party is confident that its welfare schemes will yield rich dividends, people here are worried over losing their livelihood owing to acquisition of their lands,” a village Sarpanch belonging to the Congress in Rambilly mandal said.
