The death of a farmer Karri Sankaraiah of Bangarupeta whose land was notified for acquisition for the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project (PLIP) has taken a political overtone.
PCC chief N. Raghuveera Reddy, who was here to take part in a protest seeking special category status for AP on Wednesday, blamed the government for the farmer’s death and demanded a compensation of Rs. 50 lakh to the victim’s family. The Congress and YSRC blocked road on Tuesday night, with the body of Sankaraiah near his village.
The police arrested eight protesters in this connection. Zilla Parishad Chairman Mullapudi Bapi Raju visited the bereaved family members on Tuesday, in a bid to defend the government. The farmer was said to have died a few days ago owing to the stress close on the heels of a survey undertaken by the West Godavari administration for land acquisition for the project under which 1.9 acres owned by the victim was also covered.
Around 225 acres from the village are expected to be acquired. Residents of Bangarupeta, backed by all parties, including the TDP, have been protesting against changes in the alignment of the scheme according to which pipelines drawing Godavari waters would pass nearby the village.
The land use could be mitigated to a large extent, if the project was executed as per the initial alignment, said Yerneni Nagendranath of AP Rytanga Samakhya, which is spearheading the agitation. Collector Bhaskar Katamneni, during his visit to the area, expressed helplessness to concede the request of the villagers.
