Andhra Pradesh Secondary Education Minister K. Parthasarathy has assured Punadipadu villagers that widening of Kesarapalli-Kankipadu Road will not affect them.
The villagers met the Minister at his camp office in Vijayawada on Thursday in view of the government orders to take up land acquisition for widening of the road. The villagers feared they would have to forego their houses and lands in road expansion.
The Minister, responding to their plea, said the government had decided to lay a road that was 200-ft wide between Kesarapalli and Kankipadu. Necessary steps would be taken to ensure that none of the poor was affected.
VGTUDA officials prepared a report in a “negligent” manner.
The officials planned bypass roads to Kankipadu and Kesarapalli. However, no such proposals were made for Punadipadu. Instead, they suggested widening of the existing road. Consequently, necessity to demolish 115 houses arose, he said. It was unfortunate that the officials did not hold parleys with house owners or local representatives before taking a decision. They neither gave notification in newspapers.
The villagers were facing the brunt due to unilateral decisions of officials. The matter would be taken to the notice of the Chief Minister and justice would be done to them, he asserted.
