Reddy-dominated villages oppose land pooling

• A section of farmers in Mangalagiri mandal determined to fight with govt tooth and nail
• An impression gains ground that only a section of ryots is being victimised

Vijayawada: The State government's decision to build the capital around Mangalagiri appears to be creating more problems for Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Farmers, particularly residing around the town, are unwilling to part with their land under the land pooling scheme.

Farmers belonging to a particular community are determined to resist land pooling or land acquisition by the government. Villages around Mangalagiri are dominated by small farmers belonging to the Reddy community. Apart from Mangalagiri, villages like Tadepalli, Athmakuru, Kunchanapalli, Kaza, Venkatareddypalem, Namburu, Pedakakani, Mellampudi have sizeable population of farmers belonging to the community. Curiously, the government has proposed to acquire large chunks of land in these villages for reasons best known to the powers that be.

When a Minister in the Naidu government attempted to persuade farmers to part with their lands, promising 40 per cent of built-up area to the original land-owner, they asked him to try his luck in villages like Yadlapadu, Duggirala, Mandadam, Venkatayapalem and Amaravathi where farmers belonging to the Kamma community have sizeable land holdings.

A section of farmers in almost all villages are under the impression that the government is pursuing the policy of vendetta. Ryots in almost all villages, particularly in Mangalagiri and surrounding villages have decided to oppose the land pooling tooth and nail. The government, a section of farmers feel, is trying every trick in the book to place a section of the people in an advantageous position.

Meanwhile, the YSR Congress party has threatened an agitation, if the government adopts bullying tactics to acquire land from farmers under the cover of building the capital. The party leaders accused the government of trying to deliver benefits on a platter to a section of corporate houses and persons close to the power centre.