Mild tension prevailed at Goliwada village of Ramagundam mandal on Saturday when the authorities went to the village to take up levelling for construction of pump house across the river Godavari at the Sripada Yellampalli project site.
A section of villagers alleged that the district authorities had taken up construction of pump house without providing suitable compensation and relief and rehabilitation package. They demanded that the government provide compensation as per Land Acquisition Act of 2013 to all land oustees.
A land oustee, Hanuman Reddy, alleged that the district authorities were forcibly snatching 247 acres of their land by using the police. “We got court stay, but the authorities say it is not acceptable,” he said.
Gopal Reddy, another farmer, alleged that the government had promised to provide compensation as per the market value. “But, we demanded that the compensation be paid as per the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 and R&R package,” he said.
When contacted, Collector AS Alagu Varshini said they had provided compensation (land cost) to all project oustees at the rate of ₹ 7.75 lakh per acre and the State government had also promised to provide additional amount from the irrigation department.
The Collector clarified that the oustees were losing only their land and not shelter and hence they would not be rehabilitated in R&R colony. The villagers were not dependent on agriculture and there were no farm labourers in the village.
