The plans of Telangana government to set up the 4,400 MW thermal power project in Damarcherla mandal has run into rough weather with local people opposing the plant, envisaged to make the State power surplus in a year.
The villagers losing their land under the project obstructed the officials from constructing a pylon for the thermal plant, between Tallaveerappagudem and Veerulapalem villages here on Wednesday.
Farmers from 12 villages arrived at the spot and demanded that the State government ground the works after compensating them for loss of their land.
Apart from that, the villagers demanded a job assurance letter to one member from each family prior to the launch of works.
A shed constructed for the workers was vandalised by the villagers before setting it on fire. The officials tried to reason with the villagers, but they refused to accept anything less than compensation for their land and employment for one person from each family, which the State government has orally assured.
Revenue officials from the district have acquired 4,676 acres of land for TSGenco to establish the 4,400 MW thermal power plant, which was named as Yadadri by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
ZPTC member Shankar Nayak said that they had even objected to surveying of lands. When the officials conducted grama sabhas to elicit the villagers’ opinion on giving land for the project, Mr. Nayak said that they had objected to it.
The officials convinced them saying it was just for converting the land from Centre forest to State forest. “We were also given assurances on compensation and jobs , he said. Mangamma, MPP, said that the officials now are going ahead with the works even without informing them.
Telugu Desam Party, Congress, and CPI have extended their support to the villagers. The TSGenco had planned to complete the construction of pylon within 15 days since the Chief Minister wanted to lay foundation for the project in the last week of May.
