After nearly a month-long protest by farmers who occupied the land at Gambheeram, which was allotted for the Indian Institute of Management, Visakhapatnam, have relented allowing the foundation to be laid on Saturday.
The government allocated 466 acres to the IIM out of which 243 acres is a hill, of the rest 123 acres, 80 acres are fit for construction. However, farmers, who raise crops on the allotted land, protested, seeking compensation. The ddistrict administration could deal with 27 farmers having D form pattas, assuring them compensation as per Government norms but the issue arose while dealing with some 100 persons who occupied and were cultivating the land for decades .
The issue could be resolved only after Collector N. Yuvaraj held talks with the protestors and convinced them to allow a survey of the land before compensation is paid.
