Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is turning vast tracts of green fields for the sake of a Greenfield airport at Bhogapuram and is forcing farmers to part with their land by issuing notices under an ordinance under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Rule 2014 one day before the rule had lapsed, alleged YSR Congress district president Gudivada Amarnath.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the YSRC leader said Mr. Naidu had done so to avoid provisions under the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 which was still valid, like conducting a social impact assessment survey, payment of compensation four times the market price, house along with a onetime allowance or job to every one whose land was acquired and acceptance of 80 per cent of the land owners for acquisition of land if it was done for a private organisation.
While reiterating his party’s support to the agitation of farmers of Bhogapuram, he urged the government to withdraw the notices issued under the Ordinance and issue fresh notices to the farmers under the 2013 Act and fulfil all the conditions under it.
The YSRC leader also wanted TDP’s ally BJP to clarify if the Chief Minister was leading the State to prosperity and development.
Mr. Amarnath put some questions to the Chief Minister like why the land value at Bhogapuram and Tulluru (capital area) was not raised; the need to have an airport on a 5,000 acres plus area when international airports in India and abroad were on much smaller areas; the need to shift the present Visakhapatnam airport when AAI certified that it would meet the needs for the next 25 years.
The State government is forcing farmers to part with their land
Gudivada Amarnath
YSRC leader
