Farmers of Srikalahasti and Thottambedu mandals staged a protest against what they called the ‘forcible acquisition’ of fertile land for the sake of industrial expansion and cautioned that it could lead to a serious food security threat.
A number of farmers under the banner of the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Workers’ Union (APAWU) staged a demonstration in front of the Sub-Collector’s office here on Monday taking exception to the manner in which 3,000 acres in Chodavaram, Chiyyavaram and Kasaram Panchayats of Thottambedu mandal was acquired for establishing private industrial units.
“While the officials are not disclosing for what purpose the land is being acquired, the resistance to revenue survey from the farmers clearly indicates that there is opposition to the very process of acquisition,” APAWU general secretary V. Nagaraju pointed out.
Consent of farmers is essential to acquire land under the Land Acquisition Act 2013. The Act mandated the government to reveal the purpose of acquisition, conduct of gram sabha for social audit and consent of 70 per cent of farmers for acquiring of land for a public purpose and 80 p.c. for a private purpose. “The DKT pattas were issued to us 30 years ago and we have converted barren and fallow lands into cultivable lands. Now, the government wants to take our lands for industrial use. We are not ready to part with our lands,” said Chiyyavaram sarpanch V. Penchalaiah, who, along with other affected farmers, submitted a representation to the Sub-Collector.
