The State government on Tuesday set in motion the process of pooling 30,000 acres in the 29 villages of Thullur, Mangalagiri mandals on the right bank of River Krishna for the proposed capital region.
Of the 29 villages, farmers in at least six villages located on the riverside have been opposing moves to acquire lands. A series of incidents during the last 48 hours in which banana plantations and farm implements were set afire created tension in these villages.
Earlier, Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan gave his assent to the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) Bill passed by the A.P. Legislative Assembly on December 22. The government also issued a gazette notification comprising 117 chapters in 17 pages.
CRDA Special Commissioner N. Srikanth said here that the process of land pooling in 29 villages identified as part of the proposed capital region would begin from Wednesday.
The CRDA formed 27 special ‘land pooling,’ teams comprising personnel from survey and revenue departments. The teams headed by a Deputy Tahsildar would meet farmers willing to part with their lands and take consent letters from them. In return, farmers would be given an official receipt. In cases of property disputes and other legal hurdles, pooling would be done after the court ruling, he said.
The government is planning to utilise the services of 300 personnel during the first phase of land pooling, including personnel deputed from other departments. The process of acquiring 30,000 acres in the initial phase would be completed before January 15, Mr. Srikanth said.
