“Please explain our problems to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao and change their mind. We are unable to do that. Please save our villages from submergence,” was the memorandum, submitted to Lord Mallanna, by the residents of land oustees from Mallanna Sagar project from Kondapaka and Toguta mandals on Sunday. Residents of many villagers have been continuing their relay fast for the past seven days demanding right compensation from the government as per Land Acquisition Act 2013 instead of GO 123 issued by the State Government.
Some of the villagers even performed begging for some time before the temple as a form of protest against the government attitude. “We will be on road if the reservoir is constructed without paying right compensation. We are observing this protest to show the world what our future will be,” said one of the protesters.
Meanwhile, representatives of Telangana Rachayitala Sangham led by writer Jaydve Tirumala Rao visited Etigaddaksihtapur and interacted with residents and asked about their problems. They assured them of their support for the agitation.
In a related development, representatives of all the 14 villages met at Vemulaghat and decided to constitute a committee that would meet officials and hold discussions. The representatives would be selected from all the 13 villages as Banjerpally villagers had already come forward to hand over their lands to the government under GO 123.
“The committee will take the lead in meeting with the villagers. They will also hold discussions with officials when demand comes,” said G. Jayaraj of Telangana Rytu Sangham, who is organising farmers in these villages.
