Farm labourers from Toguta mandal headquarters in the district have been protesting for the past two weeks against the ongoing Mallannasagar project construction work.
They have been demanding a survey to identify the number of oustees, and benefits extended to them as per law.
In a quandary
Farmers and farm labourers here are facing an unusual situation. While the village is not getting submerged under the Mallannasagar, some lands are. So, the government has been rejecting the demand of extending Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) to them. The protesters have been demanding that R&R package must be extended to them since they are dependent on the farm lands that would be submerged.
Demand for survey
“Counsel representing the petitioners would submit the list of villagers who are displaced on account of project activity are suffering on account of delay in settlement of the issues, particularly the agriculture labour and artisans, are struggling for their survival. No Survey was conducted to identify the persons who are affected in the acquisition process. In respect of Toguta village, an extent of 2,648.05 acres was acquired out of the total 3,400 acres of cultivable land in the village,” read the order that was issued by Justice A Rajasheker Reddy and Justice P. Naveen Rao on August 19 this year
Further, it said: “Respondents are directed to conduct a door-to-door survey in respect of Toguta village and file a report on the number of persons who are living in the village, who are dependent on agriculture working as agriculture labour and artisans, affected by the acquisition process and place before this court. The report shall be filed before this court by the next date of hearing. Posted on 23.08.2019.”
Demanding that the authorities implement the court order, the farm labourers have been protesting for the past 19 days.
Threatened
“We are being threatened by the contractor. They care nothing about the court order and told us to do whatever we can. They know we are helpless,” said Chakali Cheravva and Neerudi Bhupati of Toguta.
