The residents of Singaram in Kondapaka mandal stalled work on Mallannasagar reservoir on Saturday demanding Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) package as well as double bedroom houses that were promised to them by the government.
Singaram is one of the five villages – the remaining being Erravally in Kondapaka mandal, Vemulaghat, Pallepahad and Etigaddakishtapur in Toguta mandal – which would be submerged under Mallannasagar reservoir, a part of Kaleswaram project.
The villagers here have already sold their land to the government under GO 123 about two years ago, and they were promised double bedroom houses by the authorities. Also, they would be paid compensation for the houses that they currently reside in as they would submerge under the reservoir.
On Friday, the officials of Roads and Buildings Department visited the village and took measurements of their houses. This angered them as compensation that they would receive for the houses has not yet been decided and they are kept in the dark on the issue for some time now. Their enquiries with the officials have not yielded any result. The officials stated that they were only instructed to collect measurements of the houses and they had no other information on the issue.
Some of the villagers even visited Mutrajpally in Gajwel mandal where double bedroom houses have been proposed for them, but were unhappy with the work progress.
“We were promised the moon, but nothing has materialised yet. Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao had promised to extend Rythu Bandhu for two years, but failed to keep the same. Also, the government has not yet extended R&R package to us. Given this, how are we supposed to meet our everyday needs?” asked G. Swamy, a resident of Singaram.
Irate over the attitude of the State government, the Singaram residents started vanta varpu programme as a form of protest at the project site from Saturday morning. They said they would continue their agitation till the government fulfils its demands.
