Opposition parties, cutting across their party line, took part in the round-table on the ‘Plight of Vamsadhara project evacuees’ and resolved to take up ‘Chalo Vamsadhara’ programme on October 10 to support the demands of the displaced villagers.
Speaking at the meeting, CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna said no irrigation project should be taken up without addressing the issues of the oustees.
“There are rules clearly laid out for proper rehabilitation. There are 36 provisions to be followed by the authorities but the present TDP government is not adhering to any of these norms.”
Mr. Ramakrishna said the interests of the displaced villagers were not being taken care of in several other projects in North Andhra.
He said rehabilitation should not be done just by offering cash as compensation. “The State government, instead of taking up scattered rehabilitation, should choose a particular area to initiate complete rehabilitation process. For settlement of population, many infrastructural facilities and basic minimum amenities should be provided at the cost of the requisitioning authority to ensure that the resettled population in the new village or colony can secure themselves a reasonable standard of community life and can attempt to minimise the trauma involved in displacement.”
Farming activity
CPI(M) State secretary P. Madhu said the State government had stood exposed when a judge who made a visit to the Vamsadhara project area saw cultivation in 400 acres. “The State government had stated in the court that there were no agricultural activities but it was proved wrong when the judge saw cultivation activity.”
He said the State government was destroying the crops to create fear psychosis among the villagers. “The government is also planning to submerge the villages where the people are defiant as it did in Gandikota village in Kadapa district.”
He said after a visit to Vamsadhara, all the political parties would gear up for district-level bandhs and a series of public meetings in 13 districts. Former MP M. Babu Rao said the government was not providing relief and rehabilitation package to boys and girls who crossed 18 years.
YSRCP representative and former Minister Ummareddy Venkateswarlu said the rehabilitation process should be done on a humanitarian basis. Several farmers’ leaders and representatives of non-government organisations took part in the meeting.
