Vamsadhara youth package opposed

Srikakulam: Youth, who attained 18 years of age in all affected villages under Vamsadhara reservoir project, are opposing the government package for them as part of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R).

Initially, 1,400 youth were identified in all 34 villages in three mandals under the project according to Social Impact Assessment Survey (SIAS) conducted in 2007-08. Out of the total 34 villages, 13 would be affected completely and 21 partially.

As per 2007-08 SIAS report, the then state government had decided to provide 0.05 cents of house site and Rs 53,000 for the construction of the house to each youth under R&R package. But, it was not materialised till end of 2015 and number of youth also increased from 1,400 to 2,213 as per officials report.

Now the government is paying only Rs 5 lakh for each youth who attained 18 years of age by December 31, 2015.

But, youth are demanding Rs 13 lakh as package for them by considering variation of market prices from 2008 to 2017 relating to land and construction cost and also according to new Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

“There is no difference in youth package and family package as per R&R policy of 2007 and Land Acquisition and R&R Act of 2013, the government is violating these two and issued the GO No 460 for R&R which is illegal”, CPM state leader M Krishnamurthy explained to The Hans India.

According to 2007 R&R policy and 2013 Act, the government has to provide house site, construction cost and provide temporary livelihood till they settle, but paying Rs 5 lakh as youth package is insufficient to present market price, he pointed out.

“We have paid package to 1,975 youth so far out of total identified 2,213”, Palakonda RDO Reddy Gunnayya and Hira mandal tahasildar M Kali Prasad told The Hans India.

The displaced are demanding that they consider age of youth till January 31, 2017 instead of December 31, 2015, but it is up to the government to take a decision, they explained.