As Andhra Pradesh’s new capital begins to take shape, SUVs purr where tractors once trundled and ryots reap the last crops of a lifetime
Even as a determined Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the new capital Amaravati, farmers in the capital region appear to be in jeopardy.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
There is a complete lull in agricultural activity in the stretch between Undavalli and Thullur, a fertile patch of land known for yielding three crops a year. Vast swathes of the lush green land are now devoid of any farming activity. A visit to the area under the jurisdiction of the Capital Region Development Authority shows that barely a few days ahead of the onset of the southwest monsoon in the State, basic works like levelling of the fields, preparation of seed beds and turning on the pumpsets for wetting the ground have not taken place.
Several villages, including Penumaka, Rayapudi and Velagapudi, wear a desolate look thanks to migration of farm labourers in search of greener pastures. These villages, hitherto known for their rich agriculture, are now witness to real estate boards that have come up at every nook and corner. A steady stream of SUVs and other high-end cars has become a regular feature of this area.
What will be the fate of those who surrendered their lands for the capital? Will they look for alternative employment? “We are unsure of what to do,” lamented D. Arjuna Rao, a tenant farmer of Modulingayapalem village. “Given our education and our dependence on agriculture for decades, there is no way we can migrate to other professions.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr. Arjuna Rao was seen picking up the last remnants of stalks in his field of maize. It is probably his last crop. The Government has asked farmers here not to sow a kharif crop because the capital is going to come up here.
About the compensation offered by the Government, farmer B. Govinda Reddy said, “What sort of compensation is it? Rs. 50,000 per acre per year. It will barely suffice for the needs of a family at a time when the costs of essentials are soaring.” The price escalation is expected to shoot up further as stoppage of cultivation in this fertile stretch will have an impact on the supply of commodities to the local markets.
Differential in compensation
Then there is the differential in compensation offered to Jareeb lands and to other categories of land. “I surrendered one and a half acre and I’ve been assured a payment of Rs. 30,000 per year. I would have made nothing less than Rs. 60,000 had my land been on the other side of the road,” said Mahesh, a farmer of Lingayapalem.
What sort of compensation is it? Rs. 50,000 per acre per year. It will barely suffice for the needs of a family at a time when the costs of essentials are soaring. - B. Govinda Reddy, Farmer