KUMRAMBHEEM: Land acquisition for various irrigation projects continues to haunt the state government.
On the 365th day of protests at Vemulaghat village, the epicentre of anti-Mallanna Sagar protests, farmers and people of Tummadi Hatti and Gundaipeta villages obstructed the works on the redesigned Pranahita-Chevella canal, forcing the contractors and officials to stop the work. Villagers alleged that the government forcibly took away their lands without paying compensation to them.
In a fresh development, farmers of Tummadi Hatti and Gundaipeta villages obstructed the works on the redesigned Pranahita-Chevella canals demanding the government to release the compensation for the acquired lands. The government, after redesigning the project, wants to build a project at Tummadi Hatti.
According to Tummadi Hatti sarpanch P Sitru, officials conducted a survey of their lands in February for acquiring the same. The farmers then demanded Rs 5 lakh per acre in compensation but the government was agreeable to pay only Rs 3.50 lakh per acre.
“After that no official came to us but they descended on our lands suddenly on Sunday and started works using heavy machinery,” Sitru alleged. The government wants to acquire 670 acres of land at the two villages for taking up canal work as part of the Tummadi Hatti project.
Soon, a large number of farmers gathered at the work site and obstructed the canal work. They not only wanted that the government compensate them for their lands but were also worried that they were in a spot over going ahead with Kharif cultivation in view of the government starting work on the canal. With the 150-strong mob of farmers unrelenting, the officials left the place along with the heavy machines, reports reaching here said.
Meanwhile, district joint collector Ashok Kumar told Express that the government had acquired most of the lands and paid compensation to the farmers. Sitru, however, asserted that the government did not pay any compensation to any farmer, forcing them to stage the protest.
MSP protests enter 365th day
Protests by villagers of Vemulaghat against ‘forcible’ acquisition of their lands for the Mallanna Sagar project entered 365th day on Sunday. The villagers are fighting against the acquisition of lands under GO No 123