“What do the officials think about the people in submerging villages? What do we do when they do not respond even after 30 calls, when there is no power or water in our villages? For three days, we have suffered a lot and are forced to bring water from Gauraram and other villages,” rues B. Chandrakala, a farmer of Bailampur village who sold her land to the government for the Kondapochamma reservoir.
Power supply was restored only after three days to two villages – Bailampur Thanedarpally and Thanedarpaly thanda — while Mamidyala was plunged into darkness for two days. The situation irked the villagers so much that they hit the road, erected a tent and sat in protest, stalling the ongoing Kondapochamma work in their villages.
Revenue Divisional Officer D. Vijayender Reddy visited the village on Tuesday and Wednesday, and promised to address their problems at the earliest.
The villagers submitted a memorandum prepared then and there itself, recalling promises made by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao almost a year ago. The list of promises included payment of compensation for houses (five times of the structure value), waiving off DWCRA loans and crop loans, three cattle for each family, employment for educated members in each family, allotment of houses and houses to all those who have attained 18 years of age, constructing houses for the elderly, extending Rythu Bandhu to all, construction of toilets outside the houses in R&R colony.
A majority of the protestors are demanding that the officials, including the Collector, should visit their village for a discussion on their problems.
“We have visited the offices umpteen times and every time, they say they will implement the promises made by the Chief Minister. Now, we want officials to come to our village and discuss problems. We are not going to chase them,” the villagers said in unison.
The RDO said grievances of the villagers would be brought to the notice of the Collector and Chief Minister, and clarified that government orders are expected shortly to meet some of their demands.
Women walk out
Women of Bailampur village reportedly walked out of a meeting held by the Collector P. Venkataram Reddy here on Wednesday to discuss their demands.
Though the villagers were initially reluctant, the RDO had convinced them to attend the meeting. However, as there was no clarity on fulfilment of the promises made by the Chief Minister, the women walked out of the meeting and declared that the discussions had failed, said sources.
