Calling the Andhra Pradesh Government’s land pooling process as an act of fooling farmers, Arya Samaj leader and social activist Swami Agnivesh here on Friday said 5,000 acres will be more than sufficient to construct a capital city.
In the name of capital construction, the Government was trying to take over farmers’ lands and hand them over to corporate companies. It was a conspiracy hatched by the Telugu Desam government and it should be strongly opposed, said Mr. Agnivesh.
Addressing the CPI (ML-New Democracy) State Council meeting, Mr. Agnivesh said the ongoing land pooling was aimed at giving boost to real estate business. “Chandigarh, the capital city of two States, is constructed in about 5,000 acres. Why does Andhra Pradesh need 30,000 acres?” he said.
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Usage of huge quantum of fertile lands for construction of high-rise structures, roads and other infrastructure would pose a threat to food security, farmers livelihood, environment, pollution and agriculture farm labours livelihood in the future, he said.
The Telugu Desam government should reconsider its decision on land pooling. The financial situation of the State was in crisis with the government unable to pay salaries to its employees and there was no concrete support from the Central government. As a result, it would be a tough task to construct a world-class capital. In the end, common man would have to bear the brunt, said former Minister Vadde Sobhanadreswara Rao.
In the past, the government harassed and threatened farmers in Kakinada to part their lands for SEZ and the same tactics were being adopted in Thullur as well. The government was taking farmers for a ride saying land pooling would be more beneficial than land acquisition, he said.
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“Mr. Naidu has set aside issues like farm and DWCRA loan waiver and is so hasty about land pooling and capital construction. People do not want a capital like Singapore, all they need is basic amenities,” said Mr. Rao.
CPI (ML-New Democracy) State secretary P. Tanya, Jana Chaitanya Vedika leader V. Laxman Reddy, farmers’ union leader Anumolu Gandhi and others also spoke on the occasion.