Exactly a year ago on May 14, about 13 women fell unconscious due to high blood pressure at Etigaddakishtapur in Toguta mandal of Siddipet district. They were distressed over losing their farm land as the entire Mallannasagar village was to be submerged in the proposed Mallannasagar project.
On the same day, Sarampally Malla Reddy, vice-president of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), visited the villages that were proposed to be submerged under the Mallannasagar project.
From that day onwards, Etigaddakishtapur became the epicentre of all activities against the project and protests were held till July after which Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao made a successful bid in convincing the villagers of Etigadda Kishtapur, Toguta, Tukkapur, and Pallepahad in Toguta mandal and Kondapaka, Singaram and Erravalli in Kondapaka mandal to hand over their land to the government under GO 123. But the farmers of Vemulaghat continued their agitation and on Sunday, it reaches 344th day. They refused to sell their land to the government under GO 123 and have been asking the latter to implement the Land Acquisition Act- 2013. Some of the farmers even approached the High Court which directed the government to offer them compensation under LA Act and stalled land acquisition under GO 123. It forced the State government to enact LA Act-2016 which was passed in the Assembly.
The struggle has reportedly claimed the lives of two farmers who said to have died due to the stress that they faced in the fear of leaving their village forever.
The 50th day of the protest at Vemualghat had turned violent with farmers attempting to block Rajiv Rahadari, which was stopped by the police using force.
The ugly side aside, the agitators have some achievements to their credit. The enactment of the LA Act- 2016, High Court’s order no to acquire land under GO 123 for irrigation projects, issuance of GO 91 and GO 92 that offers a compensation of ₹7.5 lakh for landless oustees are some of them.
“We will continue our protest till we get justice. Our agitation for the past 11 months has benefited several land oustess across the State. Vemulaghat has become an inspiration for others,” said Hayatuddin, one of the agitators from Vemulaghat, on Sunday.
