Villagers who have been opposing the work on Kondapochamma reservoir softened their stand on Tuesday when D. Vijayender Reddy, Revenue Divisional Officer, Gajwel, assured them that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao would lay foundation stone for the construction of double bed-room houses at Tuniki Bollarm within a week and there was no reason to suspect the sincerity of the government.
Mr. Vijayender Reddy interacted with the villagers of Bahilampur and urged them to cooperate with the authorities in continuing the works.
The villagers of Bahilampur are on a warpath for the last 10 days and the agitation has spread to neighbouring Mamidyala, Thanedarpally and Thanedarpally tanda, thereby stalling work in almost all villages which face threat of getting completely submerged under the proposed reservoir.
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Earlier, M. Hanumantha Rao, Special Officer, Gajwel Area Development Authority (GADA), was sent back by the villagers despite his efforts to convince them to allow the work.
Mr. Vijayender Reddy also said that all the promises made by the Chief Minister will be fulfilled without fail. With this, the villagers agreed not to obstruct the work, but warned that they would stall the work again if the foundation stone for houses is not laid as promised.
Earlier in the day, commotion prevailed in the village with Sub-Inspector Srisailam allegedly threatening the villagers that he would see that the work continues in the village.
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The villagers revolted against him, literally, in the presence of senior officials and said they would not allow the work if the sub-inspector is there. The agitating villagers were pacified by Mr. Vijayender Reddy and Circle Inspector Shivalingam.
The RDO is expected to visit Mamidayala on Wednesday with the same mission.