VIJAYAWADA: A group of people from Settipalle in Tirupati Urban mandal and Chittoor met Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan seeking his help in protecting their lands from being taken away by the State government for development.
Complaining that they are being forced to part with their lands for the proposed Economic City, they said they are opposed to the project as the government has not promised to pay compensation.
“I received the land from my ancestors. The government has not given pattas and we are not willing to part with them. Now, the government officials are coming to take the lands away from us. I have two grown-up daughters who have attained marriageable age. If the land is taken away, I will be left in dire straits,” said Sarojanamma said.
Munimohan, who led the group, said the benefits of the Economic City will not come to them. “At the end of the day, we stand to lose everything. People like him have been left with no other option but to sell their lands,” he said.
The other group of people from Chittoor town said the lands are being taken away without payment of compensation for highway expansion project. “About 5,000 people are dependent on small shops located on both sides of the highway. If those shops are removed, we will not have any other source of livelihood,” Dayaraman from Chittoor explained.
He said when a similar exercise was carried out in Srikalahasti, Vizianagaram, Nandyal and Vijayawada, compensation was paid to oustees.
“We are only asking for compensation as per the law,” he said. Listening to their grievances, Pawan Kalyan said his party will champion their cause. “I stand by you all. The people are part of development and any administration neglecting them is dictatorial,” he said.