Indian Express: Telangana: Monday,
June 13, 2016.
The month
long protests centered around Mallanna Sagar project took a new turn on Sunday,
with a lawyer M Shivakumar from Gajwel seeking a comprehensive RTI report from
the district collector on the entire project lifecycle.
The oustees
are smelling a rat, alleging that TRS leaders are keeping their lands secure, whilst
making villagers forego theirs.
To find the
truth in these suspicions, Mallanna Sagar Porata Samithi members are conducting
internal investigation into it by collecting information on land bought by TRS
leaders.
Moreover,
allegations are rife that a prominent ruling party leader has acquired over 70
acres of land in Tipparam village near the project, through Benami.
Land price
per acre in the market is in the price range of Rs 15-Rs 18 lakh, and minister
Harish Rao making a statement that it is only Rs 50,000-Rs 60,000 is an insult,
say the oustees.
CPM, TDP and
Congress leaders visited the village and expressed support. On Sunday, Telugu
Rythu state president V Pratap Reddy, Vimalakka, Cheruku Sudhakar Reddy, other
Praja Front leaders visited various villages and assured their support.
Meanwhile,
Dubbak MLA S Ramalinga Reddy said the compensation offered to oustees could not
be found anywhere in the country. He added the government is ready to
compensate them, either with GO 123 or as per Land Acquisition Act 2013.
He also
alleged that some of the villagers are willing to accept compensation as per GO
123.
‘TRS voted to
power to work for public welfare’
Supporting
the protesting oustees, Telangana United Front convener Vimalakka said the
state came into existence for the welfare of Telangana people. When people
started the movement for a separate state, the present rulers were not even
there and they joined the movement in the middle, she alleged. Telangana was
achieved with a collective struggle of all, and TRS was voted to power with a
hope that it would work for welfare of people, but it is now submerging the
livelihood of farmers, she added. She toured Etigadda Kistapur, Pallepahad and
other villages on Sunday and expressed solidarity with oustees and demanded the
government to reduce the capacity of the project. If the land acquisition
becomes inevitable, compensation should be paid as per the farmers’ demand, she
said.
Villager
sells land to govt, oustees see red
Tension
prevailed in Etigadda Kistapur village of Siddipet mandal on Sunday when a
farmer Srinivas tried to sell his land to the government, going against the
resolution of oustees. It may be recalled that Etigadda Kistapur villagers
unanimously passed a resolution to not handover their lands for the project. If
anyone goes against it, a boycott might ensue.
In this incident, the villagers called him to Grama panchayat office and
questioned about handover of lands against resolution. Srinivas owned his
mistake and requested them to handover the cheque given by government to grama
panchayat, which was denied. As per
villagers, Srinivas left the village, alleging that two other people too gave
their land to government. Villagers tried to reach the houses of the two, when
police arrived and dispersed them.
Details
sought
All letters
and other means of communication sent and received at district-level
Precise
information on lands to be acquired
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