For Jana Sena Party (JSP) president Pawan Kalyan it was literally a road less travelled, but he hit those dusty lanes finally to have a feel of the problems faced by the tribal people and he hit a veritable minefield of grievances. His destination, Rampachodavaram, is just about 60 km from Rajamahendravaram, but the journey took nearly four hours as the Palle Velugu bus in which he set out to that rustic landscape had to wade through milling crowds pouring out their woes.
With him were party leaders Nadendla Manohar and Pasupuleti Balaraju and State secretaries of CPI and CPI (M) K. Ramakrishna and P. Madhu. People displaced by Polavaram project and Musurumilli and Bhoopatipalem reservoirs also travelled on the bus. The project-affected people told the JSP chief that the State government gave them a compensation of ₹3 lakh to ₹7 lakh, but claimed in its report to the Central government to have paid ₹11.50 lakh per acre. Besides, the land-owners were allegedly given barren lands in return for the fertile ones they parted with in the larger interests of the State. They also expressed regret that their habitations were not having road connectivity and other basic amenities contrary to the government’s tall claims.
Mr. Kalyan was given a rousing reception at Gadala, Korukonda, Gokavaram and other villages en route, where he strongly criticised the Union and the State governments for their failures and the disdain with which they have been treating the people while seeking their votes as part of their exploitative politics.
