Tirupati: Settipalli farmers wait to get ownership rights for two decades

Tirupati: The farmers of Settipalli village in Tirupati urban mandal have been waiting for the last 20 years for obtaining ownership rights on their cultivated lands. But, the Chittoor district authorities have not yet settled the long-pending issue. In the mean while, Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) officials are trying to take over the farmers' lands to develop a satellite township there.

There were total 635 acres of land available as per revenue records of Settipalli Panchayat, but earlier ownership titles were not mentioned clearly in land documents. Due to this, several of third persons were entered into the issue and claiming that they are the real owners and they had purchased lands from original farmers.

According to revenue department sources, settipalli lands belong to estate accounts of government. Genuine farmers have only right to ask ownership rights in estate accounts lands. Earlier, some farmers had filed cases on the issue at District Joint Collector revenue court. And also many cases have been pending in the court of Director of Settlements and at commissioner of appeals office.

After YSRCP came to the power, TUDA Chairman Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy is trying to sort out the issue and wants to take over the lands for satellite city development. He held a review meeting with Chittoor Collector Dr N Bharat Guptha and TUDA Vice=Chairman Girisha. In the meeting he expressed his dissatisfaction over the delay in providing ownership rights to genuine farmers. More than 150 farmers have been are waiting for solution. Without solving the issue, TUDA is also unable to build a satellite township in Settipalli village.