Contrasting pictures of community choice

One relocated tribal habitation has houses for all with facilities while another remains incomplete

Right choice: Relocated tribal hamlet of Padmagudem in Manuguru fast nearing completion. In comparison Kommugudem presents a picture of neglect as a majority of houses are yet to be completed.

Two tribal hamlets — Kommugudem and Padmagudem — that have been relocated displacing Koya families paving the way for open cast mines in Manuguru present a contrasting picture.

The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) which took possession of the hamlets for its open cast mine provided the residents of the two hamlets, which were less than one km apart, with same compensation in terms of money for their livelihood and construction of houses.

However, Kommugudem presents a pathetic picture with incomplete houses and hutments devoid of basic facilities like power and water while Padmagudem is a picture of accelerated development with drinking water facility, power lines and underground drainage system and nearing completion.

Collective decision

The difference by and large is because of the decision taken by the residents of Kommugudem who wanted to take up construction on their own and in the process did not calculate the overheads that would become undue burden on their marginal economy.

In their eagerness to save money from being wasted, the residents preferred construction of houses on their own, but they could not manage to fulfil their dreams as there was a huge mismatch between the compensation awarded by the SCCL and the actual cost of the houses they planned to construct. As a result, the houses, barring a few, remain incomplete as the owners could not afford to pay the balance amount.

Proactive official

The residents of Padmagudem, however, trusted a proactive official who made sure that the relocated hamlet had all the facilities. Then Joint Collector D. Divya, presently posted as JC Vikarabad, took the responsibility and ensured that the double bedroom houses were constructed as per plan. No wonder some of the residents in the relocated colony which is close to the Manuguru Railway Station named their houses after her — Divya Nilayam.

There are, of course, some families that were left over — around 40 in Kommugudem and 28 in Padmagudem — who continue to make rounds of Government offices for compensation.