Farmers prefer Land Acquisition Act to GO 123

Oustees of Komuravelli Mallanna reservoir want a fair compensation for the land taken over for the project

A majority of the farmers in Medak district, who were forced to give up their land for different projects are preferring to receive compensation under Right for Fair Compensation and Accountability in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 — enacted by Parliament with the consent of President on September 26, 2013 — instead of GO No. 123 issued by the State government on July 30, 2015.

A cross section of villagers said they would get a house in a newly established village with the required infrastructure in addition to getting compensation four times to the card value of the house or land, after considering three years average.

The farmers of Etigaddakishtapur are losing land for the proposed construction of Komuravelli Mallanna reservoir as part of Kaleswaram project. “We are ready to quit the village and hand over our lands and houses to the government provided the government is ready to offer compensation under Land Acquisition Act under which we can be rehabilitated as well. We want to meet Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and present our argument,” said Mannem Penta Reddy of Erravalli village in Kondapaka mandal.

“Majority farmers in our village are opting for Land Acquisition Act 2013 as it offers resettlement and some other benefits. GO 123 offers nothing but one-time payment of cash at one go,” said Mr. Prashant, a software employee of the village fighting on behalf of farmers and oustees.

Three deaths in one week

Tirupati Narsaiah (65) was found dead in his house on Sunday. He had about half an acre of land.

On Saturday Narsaiah had played drums ( chavu dappu ) at the funeral of Tallapalli Rajavva (68) — - a farmer with a holding of three acres — who died the previous day on Friday.

According to one Y. Srinivas Reddy of Vemulaghat of Toguta mandal, which is expected be submerged in the proposed Komurvelli Mallanna reservoir, Rajavva entered into a heated argument with officials who came to the village to collect the details of land holdings and conducted survey at about 11 a.m. At 3 p.m. she breathed her last. On May 16, Gollapally Ramaiah (65), a farmer who owned two acres, suddenly collapsed and died. “The stress being faced by the elders to vacate the village is much higher than the younger generation. Where to go after vacating the village is a big question before us,” said Mr. Srinivas Reddy, who was here to participate in the ‘Mallannasagar Land Oustees Struggle Committee’ meeting.