Farmers oppose land acquisition

Dharmavaram (Anantapur): Small and marginal horticulture farmers of Thumparthi and Mutumarla villages in Dharmavaram mandal are up in arms against State government and the local MLA Varadapuram Suri for snatching farm lands belonging to nearly 150 farmers, who are growing mangoes, grapes, bananas and even paddy crops. The government had decided to acquire assigned lands from farmers, who had been raising horticulture crops for quite some time, for weaker sections housing construction programme. 

Of the 210 acres of land, the government is acquiring 120 acres which are having horticulture plantations while the remaining lands have multiple crops including paddy. The government started taking possession of the lands since Thursday and continued on Friday with the help of revenue staff and police applying the provisions of the revised Land Acquisition Act 2015.

Farmers and CPM leaders vehemently opposed the land acquisition on the ground that all farmers enjoying the assigned lands are small and marginal farmers. They maintained that the government instead of acquiring the lands of the local MLA Varadapuram Suri which are located near the farmers’ lands have embarked on a war on the helpless have-nots. 

The operation land possession was launched by RDO Tippe Naik who told The Hans India that the lands acquisition decision was not taken all of a sudden or in a huff but after the approval of the Grama Sabhas concerned. Of course, the concerned farmers opposed the decision, but the decision was taken in public interest as the government planned a weaker section housing programme on a massive scale.

Farmers Peddanna and Kadirappa and women farmers lamented that the government is protecting the party land lords and forcefully acquiring poor farmers’ lands. CPM leaders Pola Ramanjaneyulu, Lakshmi Narayana and Peddanna have staged a dharna and prevented the operation of CB machines which were uprooting mango plantations. 

Dharmavaram DSP Venkataramana provided protection to the revenue staff and arrested the agitating farmers and CPM leaders in the Thumparthi village and sent them to police custody. Besides, the farmers are unhappy with the meagre compensation of Rs 5 lakh per acre when the lands have more commercial value. Yerikala Ramaiah having horticulture plantations in 5 acres of land is virtually in tears as he saw all his mango plants being uprooted by the revenue personnel.

Dharmavaram Tahsildar Mehaboob Basha said that of the 210 acres an extent of 193 acres have been taken possession by the department. He said that this development was not sudden. It was widely publicised in the villages by ‘Dandora’ and even approved by Grama Sabha. He said that although the land value is a mere Rs 1.3 lakh per acre as per the Sub-Registrar records, we have recommended to government to pay Rs 5 lakh per acre and the later approved the recommendation.

Meanwhile, sources revealed that of the 150 farmers, as many as 27 farmers came forward to accept the compensation of Rs 5 lakh per acre while about 90 farmers are vehemently opposed the compensation saying that they should be given the same compensation of Rs 10 lakh per acre given to Kia Automobiles displaced farmers. YSRCP leader Kethireddy Venkataram Reddy in a statement condemned the local MLA Varadapuram Suri for being the brain behind the operation and snatching away poor farmers’ lands which are the only source of their livelihood.