Govt neglecting rehab of Pulichintala displaced

People of 13 villages in Nalgonda district still await relief

Nalgonda: The Government is adopting a negligent attitude towards the rehabilitation of persons displaced by the Pulichintala Project, which is set for inauguration on Saturday by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. The displaced people are threatening to stall the inauguration till all rehabilitation steps are implemented. Out of the Relief and Rehabilitation (RR) package of Rs.130.54 crore, only Rs.76.49 crore has been paid so far to the displaced persons.

Of the 17 villages in Nalgonda district affected by the project, 13 villages are yet to be totally submerged and four partially inundated. The Government has inordinately delayed in setting up rehabilitation centres in the villages and providing compensation and facilities to the affected, causing consternation among the displaced.

The 13 villages---Adluru, Velaturu, Kishtapuram, Chitriyala, Sobhanadrigudem, Nemalipuri, Reballe, Sultanpuram Thanda, Gundeboyinagudem, Piklanaik Thanda, Mattampalli, Thammavaram, Gundlapalli--- to be submerged are situated in Mellacheruvu, Neredcherla and Mattampalli mandals. Those to be partially submerged are Vajinepalli, Raghunathpalem, Ramachandrapuram Thanda and Meegadampadu Thanda.

After the project’s foundation stone was laid in 2004, the Government focused attention on the rehabilitation process. The displaced persons are terribly unhappy with the package alleging that the amount is not enough to purchase even house sites. The rehabilitation work in the submerged villages is going at a snail’s pace. No houses have been built so far, as also other facilities provided. In some villages, like Nemalipuri, Reballe, Chitriyala, residents are refusing to stay at the RR centres and insisting on allocation of house sites elsewhere. About 600 families of Reballe have been resettled at the Thammavaram centre. Of them, 340 families want to be moved to Mellacheruvu.

As many as 660 families of Chitriyal have been allotted 489 house sites near Nakkagudem, while others are demanding house sites elsewhere. About 250 of the 559 families of Nemalipuri have been given land at Dorakunta in Kodad mandal are insisting on sites near the project site itself.

Of the RR estimates of Rs 500 crore for housing, rehab, RR centres and basic facilities, the Government has released only over Rs 344.9 crore. Of the compensation of Rs.49.93 crore for submersion of 5,534 houses of 6,722 families in 13 villages, Rs 43.41 crore has been paid. Of the 697 acres required for housing, 606 acres have been acquired and Rs 10 crore is yet to be released. Only 5,459 IAY houses have been allotted to the families. Of the 202 works like roads, drainage, electrification, water supply, hospitals, Anganwadi centres, community halls, vet hospitals, libraries, 130 have been completed.