Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram alleged that the State government was deceiving people in the name of irrigation project and asked the villagers of Erravalli not to move out of the village until the government builds a new one, in case of submergence under the Land Acquisition Act -2103.
Stating that the government was ruthless in its functioning, given the way it was going ahead with the Mallannasagar project, he asked the oustees to fight together to save their villages.
The four-day padayatra by CPI(M), in support of the agitation against the project, began at Erravalli on Friday which was attended by a large number of oustees. Addressing the gathering before starting the padayatra, Mr. Veerabhadram said that government agents were sneaking into the villages in an attempt to coerce vulnerable persons to sell their land for the price being offered by the government under GO 123. They were even misleading the villagers by saying that they would get less if they get compensation under the Land Acquisition Act. Informing that the government has plans to acquire about 5 lakh acres across the State, the CPI(M) leader said that the party would fight on behalf of all those losing their land. “If all the villagers are united on their demands, they can make the government implement the Land Acquisition Act. Also, they can continue staying in their villages if they keep their fight alive and not let the project construction take off,” he said, warning the villagers against signing papers related to GO 123.
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“Even well-known retired engineers like Haunmantha Rao are of the opinion that many projects were not needed. But the government is adamant in its stand. It’s doubtful if the entire land to be acquired is for the project alone.” Revolutionary singer Vimalakka said that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had promised before the general elections that there would be no submergence of villages, no migration and no land oustees.