Displaced set for direct clash with govt

​Kurnool: Residents, including farmers, of Sakunala and Gani villages of Orvakallu mandal are on the warpath getting ready for a direct clash with the State government as they feel that the solar power plant being set up in 5,000 acres and Nano chemical factory in 150 acres, costing Rs.1,100 crore, are to have a serious impact on their future.

As their repeated appeals to the concerned for compensation have fallen on deaf ears they plan to launch an indefinite hunger-strike as justice has not been done to them. Land acquisition---including pattas, assigned and DKT lands--- for the plant and factory was done at a fast pace. Officials had directed the residents to give up their land at a price to be fixed by the government.

Although they were agitated initially, the residents, in the absence of an alternative, agreed to part with their lands, despite a difference in the price being offered by the administration and the demand made by the villagers. Following this the open hearing conducted by officials got postponed several times, with the visit of leaders of political parties to Gani and Sakunala to express support.

Every leader wanted the government to pay compensation to villagers under the Land Acquisition Act. This forced the government to relent, hold discussions and decide on a rate. But it was confined only to paper. Farmers are concerned that no compensation has been received so far from the solar power plant management, despite agitating several times with the backing of some political parties. They accuse the government of providing temporary relief through holding of discussions.

And not offering a permanent solution. They have set October 29 as the deadline to the State for the payment of compensation. Failing which they have warned to take up a mass indefinite fast. ‘We won’t hesitate to stall the plant construction’, a villager, Ramakrishna, told The Hans India. He contends that the two villages won’t gain anything substantial if the two units are set up. The villagers don’t believe that they would get employment. They feel that only outsiders will secure jobs, with no chances for locals.

Residents, who realised that the Nano chemical factory will harm their villages, have been seriously opposing it. They drove away officials who came to the spot to conduct public opinion, after questioning them why the unit is being built. They warned that if the management goes ahead they would not hesitate even to sacrifice their lives, despite registration of cases by the police and clamping of prohibitory orders. The villagers have been agitating against the factory for air and water pollution it would cause.

A resident of Kondajutur, Balaswamy, told THI that the villagers are ready to undertake fast along with willing organisations. He made it clear that the villagers would not welcome any polluting industry in their areas. The residents are getting ready to go on fast along with some people’s organisations although the factory work has been stopped for now.

Similar is the fate of the persons being displaced by the Gorukallu project with 14.77 tmcft under the Galeru-Nagari, which was taken up during the regime of P V Narasimha Rao. The subsequent government did not go ahead with its work. However, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government took it up under the ‘Jalayagnam’ projects. The administration launched the work at a fast pace, after giving a firm assurance to the villagers. The TDP government continued the work and officials conducted a trial run after two tmcft was received by the project following the recent rain.

Trouble arose after water leaked from the project to surrounding areas, with groundwater emerging after digging of just one foot and septic tanks in bathrooms getting full. Unable to stay, residents have threatened to vacate the village, while demanding rehabilitation. Although leaders have been visiting Gorukallu, they have not made any effort to solve the residents’ problems.

A villager, Suresh, told THI that the residents are ready to go on fast if the problems remain unsolved. They are distressed that, although they have sacrificed their lands for the project and are even ready to vacate their houses, the administration is indifferent to their woes. They have threatened to commit suicide.

By D Harikishan