Kaleshwaram oustees seek better deal

Farmers who would be affected by the lift irrigation projects stage day-long protest at tahsildar’s office

Better future: Former minister D. Sridhar Babu along with persons who would be displaced by Kaleshwaram project staging a dharna in Mahadevpur mandal of Jayashankar-Bhupalapalli district on Tuesday.

MAHADEVPUR (JAYASHANKAR-BHUPALAPALLI DISTRICT): Persons who would be displaced by the State Government’s prestigious Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project staged a day-long peaceful agitation at the Tahsildar’s office in Mahadevpur mandal on Tuesday.

A large number of oustees of the Kaleshwaram project who would be displaced following the construction of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla lift irrigation projects and pump houses reached here to participate in the dharna organised by TPCC vice president and former minister D. Sridhar Babu.

The displaced were demanding that the Government should provide compensation of ₹ 20 lakh to ₹30 lakh per acre as per the Land Acquisition Act of 2013.

Loss of livelihood

Congress Legislature Party deputy leader T. Jeevan Reddy and TPCC SC cell State chairman Arepalli Mohan extended solidarity with the agitation by participating in the camp. The land oustees of the project had started arriving from various parts of the Manthani assembly segment and submitting petitions to Mr. Sridhar Babu asking him to fight for their cause.

Talking to

The Hindu , Mr. Sridhar Babu said that a large number of farmers would be displaced with the lift irrigation projects and they would lose their livelihood. Charging the State Government with terrorising the farmers by dumping the construction material in the fields without acquiring the land, he said that the Kaleshwaram project was aimed only to lift water to Medak district would not serve even the undivided Karimnagar district.

“What is wrong if the government provides compensation of ₹30 lakh per acre to the farmers who are losing their livelihood,” he asked.

Tribal area

Kaleshwaram project area comes under MADA (Modified Area Development Agency) and dominated by the tribals. The project would displace the tribal population, he said and demanded that the Government should provide employment to each of the displaced persons.

After the High Court quashed land acquisition under GO 123 the Government should wake up at least now and provide for welfare of the displaced persons, he said and suggested that the government follow the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 to provide adequate compensation to the land oustees by increasing the registration value of the land.