Saturday, October 21, 2017, is D-day for not only farmers of this village but also for land oustees under irrigation projects across the state.
The district administration is scheduled to conduct a grama sabha in the village on Saturday as per the assurance given to the High Court after the residents challenged the decision of the government to acquire their lands. The residents told the High Court that a grama sabha was never conducted in the village.
Some of the officials stated that the grama sabha holds the key for the approval of irrigation projects in the state referring to a decision taken by Perumatty grama panchayat in Kerala which has cancelled the licence of Coco Cola plant.
Assurance to HC
“The government giving an assurance to the judiciary to conduct grama sabha at Vemulaghat explains its importance. At least 80 % of the members of Grama Sabha should give consent if the government has to go ahead,” commented an officer on condition of anonymity. According to the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act only the residents whose name is on the electoral rolls are members of the grama sabha.
As per Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act – 2013, the District Collector has to notify the date, timing and venue in consultation with representatives of the grama panchayat for holding special grama sabha in the affected areas three weeks in advance and conduct public awareness campaign to motivate members of grama sabha to participate. The names and signatures of all members who attend the grama sabha are to be recorded. The quorum shall be at least 50 % of the total members of the grama sabha for considering the consent as valid: provided that one-third of the total women members of the Grama Sabha shall also be present in the meeting.
Printed copies with the proposed terms and conditions for compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement should be made available in the local language at least three weeks prior to Grama Sabha. The terms and conditions, rehabilitation and resettlement committed by the requiring body shall be explained to the Grama Sabha members in local language and signatures of the members as well as the representatives of the requiring body shall be obtained on such terms and conditions.
“Any resolution that does not explicitly contain a statement of consent to the project, a statement of negotiated terms of compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement shall be invalid,” states the seventh point under the head of ‘Consent of Grama Sabha in Chapter III of LA Act – 2013.
