District Collector Siddarth Jain on Thursday undertook a 12-km long walkathon covering a dozen villages of Shantipuram mandal in Kuppam constituency to defuse the tense atmosphere and farmers’ unrest in connection with the proposed move to acquire farm lands for construction of an airstrip.
Mr. Jain, accompanied by officials of agriculture, irrigation and revenue departments interacted with farmers and women, saying there was no move to acquire lands by force.
The Collector’s walk in the forested stretch along the Palar riverbed between Kadapalle to Thimmarajupalle villages assumed significance in the wake of farmers not allowing entry to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials into the fields to conduct survey for airstrip project on three occasions in four months. Hundreds of people from all over Shantipuram mandal thronged the proposed airport zone and poured out their apprehensions.
The Collector tried to pacify them saying that the airport project would bring unprecedented development in Kuppam region, and those who provide lands would get jobs for their children in the project, in addition to compensation.
At the same time, Mr. Jain reiterated yet again that lands would not be acquired forcibly.
The Collector was also told about lack of Anganwadi centres in the villages surrounded by forest and that the medical and health officials were not visiting their villages.
Reaching Shantipuram mandal headquarters in the evening, the Collector urged farmers not to obstruct the survey of the airport project. “Survey does not mean acquiring your lands. We are yet to get clearance from the Airports Authority of India to go ahead with the project in Kuppam. You have to cooperate with the officials. We will not let down any farmer,” he said. Some sarpanches approached Mr. Jain and assured him that they would not hamper the survey process.
Lands will not be acquired by force, says Siddharth Jain
