VIJAYAWADA: Apparently with an intent to send a message that construction of capital would go ahead come what may, officials have begun physical work in the capital region in Guntur district by levelling three acres at Nelapadu in Thullur mandal taken under land-pooling. The land belonged to village sarpanch Dhanekula Subba Rao. Levelling was done after Subba Rao harvested his cotton crop.
The officials have also begun the process to nip in the bud the protests that are taking place for the return of consent forms submitted to the CRDA by farmers that they have no objection to give their lands for capital construction. In Nouluru, a few days ago, farmers had a heated argument with officials when the latter refused to return their consent letters.
The farmers had alleged that the officials had taken the consent letters under duress.
In Nelapadu, officials announced that they have taken physical possession of 97 acres belonging to 37 farmers in the village. They have paid `28 lakh to these farmers as the first instalment of compensation promised by the government.
According to officials, compensation amounts were paid to the farmers with whom the CRDA had entered into agreements. Payment of compensation begins only after taking physical possession of land which is now going on since land-pooling exercise is over, officials said.
The officials who have collected consent letters from farmers are now getting ready to enter into agreements with the farmers in the rest of villages in Thullur, Mangalagiri and Tadepalli mandals.
They are waiting for the farmers who had given consent letters to harvest their standing corps so that the lands could be levelled and be made ready for construction.
Agreements would take place only after farmers verify the documents, make physical verification of the claims and identify the lands that the farmers said they owned.
The process is on and the exercise of verification and entering into agreements has begun, officials said. Nelapadu sarpanch Subba Rao, whose land had been levelled, says he is quite happy over the government taking over his land.
“I am quite happy. In fact, our village had adopted a resolution expressing our willingness to give our lands,” Subba Rao said.