The preliminary notification for land acquisition in Vemulaghat village for construction of Mallannasagar Reservoir included a number of dead persons.
The notification was issued under Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act – 2013 (LA Act – 2013) as this is the only village in the entire Mallannasagar reservoir limits which has been fighting for compensation and resettlement under LA Act 2013.
The villagers pointed out that some of the names in the notification included — Seripally Narasimha Reddy, Seripally Hanmantha Reddy, Seripally Ramulu and Pothuganti Yellaiah — who were no more.
Officials admitted that this was true and that the records were yet to be corrected and it would be done within 60 days after issuing of notification. They said that they would be visiting each field to verify the owner and the extent of the land by inquiring with locals and only after the verification will the cheques be issued to the land owners.
Further, many farmers did not come forward to regularise ‘sada bainami’ lands and change of name to the legal heir in the event of death of the owner, the officials added.
However, the villagers dispute the explanation given by the officials. While admitting that the officials have to visit the fields and ascertain the actual owners before finalising the details of the beneficiary for compensation, they question the rationality behind delay and why the names of the dead had appeared in the notification.
“The preliminary notification was issued first on July 23rd, 2017, under Section 11 (1) of LA Act-2013. Probably by September 23rd, 2017, they could have corrected the records. However, it has not been done so far, which is evident from the latest notification. What prevented the officials from correcting the land records?” asked a farmer from the village.
“The names of the dead have been listed in the declaration issued by the authorities. You have not yet corrected the records which was mandatory under Section 12 of LA Act. We, the heirs of the deceased request you to correct the records,” said farmers of the village in a memorandum submitted to the officials on June 30th.
