SANGAREDDY: An air of hostility prevailed in Etigadda Kistapur, the epicentre of Mallanna Sagar protest, on Tuesday evening as villagers assembled in large numbers and asserted that they will not give away their lands for the project.
It was a day of dramatic developments for the protesters as they felt misled by Irrigation minister T Harish Rao, who earlier held out an olive branch and later declared that the villagers have agreed to hand over their lands, without their consent.
The minister visited Bandla Venkatapur village near Gajwel, and held talks with the oustees.
Villagers from Etigadda Kistapur too attended the meeting. During the meeting, Harish Rao offered `6 lakh per acre as compensation to the farmers who are ready to hand over their lands. “We will also build another Etigadda Kistapur as part of the rehabilitation package,” Harish Rao assured them.
Emerging from the meeting, Harish Rao informed the media about the package offered by the government. He went on to say that the villagers of Etigadda Kistapur agreed to the compensation package. However, the villagers of Etigadda Kistapur later revealed that they did not give their consent but said they will discuss the matter with the villagers and take a call.
As it was announced that the government arrived at a consensus with the villagers, tempers ran high and they rushed back to their protest camps.
Later, Mallanna Sagar Porata Samithi held a meeting and made it clear that they will not give away their lands unless the government acquire their lands under Land Acquisition Act, 2013.