Arya Samaj leader and social activist Swami Agnivesh here on Friday said the State government was deceiving farmers in the name of land pooling. Stating that 5,000 acres would be more than enough to construct a capital city, he called upon farmers to oppose land pooling. The government was trying to take over farmers’ lands and hand them over to corporate companies, he alleged. Addressing the CPI (ML-New Democracy) State council meeting, Swami Agnivesh said the ongoing land pooling was aimed at giving boost to real estate business. “Chandigarh, the capital city of two States, is constructed in about 5,000 acres. Why does Andhra Pradesh need 30,000 acres?” he said.
Diversion of a huge chunk of fertile land for construction of high-rise structures, roads and other infrastructure would pose threat to food security, farmers’ livelihood, and environment in the future, he said.
The Telugu Desam government should reconsider its decision on land pooling. The financial situation of the State was in crisis with the government unable to pay salaries to its employees and there was no concrete support from the Central government. As a result, it would be a tough task to construct a world-class capital. In the end, common man would have to bear the brunt, said former Minister Vadde Sobhanadreswara Rao.
CPI (ML-New Democracy) State secretary P. Tanya, Jana Chaitanya Vedika leader V. Laxman Reddy, farmers’ union leader Anumolu Gandhi and others also spoke on the occasion.
Staff Reporter from Guntur writes: Farmer’s resistance to land pooling in the river front villages in the capital notified region can become a testing ground to a nationwide movement against changes in the Land Acquisition Act 2013, Swami Agnivesh said.
“We will stand by the farmers opposing land pooling. Medha Patkar and Anna Hazare will visit these villages in the second and last weeks of March,’’ Swami Agnivesh told The Hindu on Friday.
The Swami accompanied by Jana Vignana Vedika convener V. Lakshmana Reddy, Sandhya of POW , Korivi Vijay Kumar from Congress, visited the river front villages of Undavalli, Penumaka, Venkatapalem and Errabalem.
