Rythu Bandhu cheques to Bailampur ryots

No clarity if largesse is limited to one village

Revenue Divisional Officer D. Vijayender holding discussions with Bailampur villagers in Siddipet district.

The farmers of this village who had during last week obstructed work on the proposed Kondapochamma Reservoir last week demanding implementation of the promises made by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had relented only after Revenue Divisional Officer D. Vijayender Reddy assured them that all promises made by the Chief Minister would be fulfilled and that they would be extended Rythu Bandhu scheme in the next 10 days.

The government has already acquired 98 % of the 5,696 acres land required for the proposed Kondapochamma reservoir coming up in Gajwel constituency represented by Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao. The proposed reservoir would completely submerge three villages and one tanda — Mamidyala, Bailampur, Thanedarpally and Thanedarpally tanda — and some land in three other villages. However, a few farmers of this village had approached the court seeking implementation the Right to Fair Compensation in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act – 2013 (LA Act -2013).

Assurances endorsed

The assurances given by the RDO, including Rythu Bandhu cheques, were endorsed by Collector P. Venkataram Reddy during a subsequent meeting with the villagers.

Doubts are being raised over the possibility of extension of Rythu Bandhu Scheme to the villagers. “The lands were already acquired by the government and now the government is the owner of these lands. Rythu Bandhu cannot be extended to the government lands. The question is how the government would extend Rythu Bandhu scheme to the farmers who earlier owned these lands. The government would have to issue a GO for implementing this promise,” said an officer on condition of anonymity.

Another question that is being raised is whether the promise of Rythu Bandhu cheques is limited only to Bailampur, where farmers were obstructing work on the reservoir or to farmers of all villages under Kondapochamma. Secondly, is the largesse limited to only this reservoir or would be extended to all the other reservoirs in the State as well.

Significantly, officials had declared that Rythu Bandhu scheme was not applicable to lands that were notified for acquisition in Vemulaghat, Etigaddakishtapur and other villages, despite the fact that the title to the land was with the farmers who had not yet sold their land to the government.