Former Minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao has said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu might meet Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government’s fate in West Bengal if he continues to acquire land from farmers in the name of development projects.
West Bengal was traditionally red bastion but the electorate turned against CPM and supported Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee resulting in landslide victory in the assembly polls. No wonder Trinamool Congress’s victory in the Assembly polls rode on the successes of anti-land acquisition movements in Nandigram and Singur but if the A.P government continues to acquire land from farmers, the TDP might face the same situation, he said.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Mr. Rao opposed the move to acquire land from farmers for the proposed Greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district.
Citing the performance of various airports on relatively less land, he said as many as 5,000 people from seven villages would become shelterless against 1205 houses that would be affected by the government’s land acquisition move. The airport in Mumbai that is catering to the needs of over 3.75 crore passengers every year was built in 1850 acres and it was handling seven lakh tons of cargo as well. Chennai airport constructed in 1100 acres is serving over 1.43 crore passengers and handling three lakh tons of cargo every year. “Why the government wants to acquire huge tracts of land for Bhogapuram airport when major airports are constructed in less land?” he asked.
The administration in Krishna district has started the process of acquiring land from farmers for Gannavaram airport expansion. But there are reports that the government is planning to construct a Greenfield airport in 5,000 acres in Mangalagiri in Guntur district. “What is the rationale behind taking land from farmers in Gannavaram when there is an alternative plan?” he questioned.
Alleging that Mr. Naidu is treating farmers like mosquitoes and flies, the former Minister criticized the Chief Minister for failing to come to the rescue of tobacco farmers.
