Veteran soldiers accompanied by widows of soldiers who fought in the Indo-Pak and Indo-China wars have intensified their protest to protect a piece of land that was proposed for a deep sea port at Machilipatnam.
In 2007, the government of Andhra Pradesh has sanctioned 9.79 acres of land (S.No. 248/3) at Karaagraharam village in Machilipatnam mandal for 216 eligible soldiers for housing plots. The soldiers were also given pattas by the revenue authorities, permitting them to enjoy the right over it. “We are all set to begin construction activity of the soldiers’ colony on our site at Karagraharam on November 17. Meanwhile, the revenue officials have removed boundary stones on the site last week without any intimation,” said Krishna District Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association (KDEWA) general secretary Ch. Subhani.
‘Blame game’Mr. Subhani was wounded in the Kargil War. Responding to notices by Joint Collector J. Murali, Machilipatnam Tahsildar B. Naradamuni on Wednesday invited the soldiers for talks to find an amicable solution over the issue. “The revenue officials asked us to appeal to the State government to exclude the 9.79 acres of land from the proposed area for Machilipatnam port. The officials at various levels in the district are playing a blame game with us,” Mr. Subhani told The Hindu . Retired soldiers who attended the talks also poured out their woes to the resettlement wing of the Ministry of Defence.
The KDEWA members spent nearly Rs.12 lakh on developing plots and ground levelling works since they were given possession of the land. The soldiers of the Indian tri-forces, who began a relay-hunger-strike in front of the Collectorate on November 19, are chalking out plans to intensify their protest until the district authorities allow them to resume works on the site.
Meanwhile, Krishna district Joint Collector J. Murali had asked the Tahsildar and other revenue officials to appear before him to discuss the issue on November 29.