Mallanna Sagar oustees elated over compensation

Siddipet: It was far from the regular activity. We can't even imagine any kind of celebration in those villages where people lost their land for the construction of irrigation projects. But it happened in the submerged villages of Mallanna Sagar in Siddipet district.

It was a festival like event in Vemulaghat and Yetigadda Kishtapur, where the 'displaced' were given cheques for compensation. The officials, Collectors of Siddipet and Rajanna Sircilla Krishna Bhaskar, Venkatrama Reddy and Police Commission Joel Davis, who graced these villages for cheque distribution were profusely felicitated by the displaced and farmers. Farmers burst crackers and showered the portrait of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao with milk.

The cheque distribution for compensation and rehabilitation of the displaced in submerged villages of Mallanna Sagar project, has been going on for six days. The programme is not being conducted as before. The distribution programmes are organised like festival celebrations. Special camps have been arranged in respective villages for the purpose. Higher officials like collectors are personally monitoring the situation time to time and promptly addressing the arising issues.

The farmers who received the compensation felt very happy. They said they are also happy for being part of the project, which enables fertile in the state. Apart from Vemulaghat, Yetigadda Kishtapur, the distribution of cheques was already completed in villages like Pallepahad, Lakshmapur Rampur, Brahmana Banjerupalli, Singaram, Erravalli. The distribution was also completed in the submerged villages under Konda Pochamma reservoir like Bylampur, Tanedarpalli, Mamidyala.

The district Collectors of Siddipet and Rajanna Sircilla said that the government has announced a best package for the farmers. The compensation includes lands, borewells, trees, pipelines etc.

The collectors said the package is the best in the entire country for rehabilitation. "According to the central act, a house should be built in 60 sq yards with a budget of Rs 1.25 lakh. But the houses are being given by Telangana government are four times better than that of central act," they said.

The distribution programme has been successful for the last six days in Gajwel revenue division. Specially appointed RDOs, team of tahsildars and revenue staff are busy in the programme. Officials said people are vol

untarily coming forward for receiving the cheques. The cheques rejected by farmers will be submitted in courts. Joint collector Padmakar, Siddipet RDO Jayachandra Reddy, GADA SO Mutyam Reddy, specially appointed revenue staff and other officials were present.