Payout-denied villagers cry for justice

APIIC empowered to establish an Industrial Park in Mallavalli

​Amaravati: “I have four-and-a-half acres of land which is in my possession for the past 30 years where I raised mango grove. The revenue department has asked us to surrender the land for establishing industrial park. Myself and my two brothers possess about 12.5 acre.

The revenue department has not identified our land and we were denied of financial compensation. I represented the matter to all the persons concerned and even approached the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and also sent representation to Prime Minister’s Office.

Several irregularities have taken place in taking over the land where a few farmers only got Rs 7.5 lakh compensation per acre. We will not allow the government to take any construction activity in the land until we will get justice,” warned Pantam Kamaraju, one of the victim of Mallavalli village of Bapulapadu mandal in Krishna district.

The state government under GO MS No. 456 dated October 25, 2016 has issued orders for alienating 1,406.06 acres of land in Survey No. 11 at Mallavalli village of Bapulapadu mandal to Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) for establishment of Industrial Park.

The District Collector of Krishna has identified 1,460.06 acres of land in Mallavalli village of which 1,360.06 acres is under encroachment of Sivai Jamaidars an extent of Ac.100.00 cents is vacant on ground and the same was handed over to the APIIC.

Following the orders of Collector the revenue department has conducted survey in 1,360.06 acres with the help of GEOCON survey team and it was revealed that there are 490 encroachers occupying the land to an extent of 716.44 acres have been identified.

The APIIC authorities have released an amount of Rs 74.80 crore as tentative budget for payment of ex gratia to the encroachers. Subsequently, the district authorities have taken up occupation of the encroached land by paying Rs 7.5 lakh per acre as compensation to the identified encroachers.

According to villagers of Mallavalli, several irregularities have taken place while identifying the original beneficiaries and the revenue department has imposed many restrictions for identifying the encroachers.

Speaking to The Hans India, Atchi Venkateswar Rao, a poor farmer who possess one acre land, said that he too was denied of compensation by the Revenue department. The three mango trees in my one-acre land is my livelihood.

“How can I survive with my wife and two daughters if the land taken back by the government without giving compensation,” he questioned in agony. Another victim Tirupati Ankaraju is also facing similar situation where the government has denied to pay compensation to his four acres of land.

According to villagers the revenue department is not following the specified guidelines of GO NO 456, which directed that compensation should be paid to all the beneficiaries irrespective of their tenure of occupation in the land.

“The revenue department has restricted to three acres of land for paying compensation to a farmer. Those who are having more than three acres of land they were denied of paying compensation for the surplus land. The encroachers, who belonged to other adjacent villagers were also denied of compensation.

Some of the names listed in the identified beneficiaries are also fake persons, who are no way concerned with the land and they too enjoyed the benefits. Nearly 250 farmers were denied of compensation and the lost their land which was in their possession for the past 30-40 years. In the name of re-possessing the encroached land, the revenue department has indulged in a big scam, which should be investigated by higher investigation agency,” Kamaraju demanded.

Meanwhile, the construction works taken up by APIIC in the 100 acres of the government vacant land which was alienated has been obstructed by the villagers who are demanding justice to them. Recently, when the agitators objected the construction works Nuzvid RDO C Rangaiah who visited the area warned of stringent action against the protesters if they try to prevent the works.

When contacted APIIC JE K Sriranganath said the government has alienated 1,260 acres of land in Survey No 11 at Mallavalli village for establishing industries.

A mega food park will be established in an extent of 100 acres of land for which already works have been taken up and in the remaining land other industries and establishments will come up, he said. As far as protests by the villagers concerned, he said the works in the 100 acres of land which was already alienated by the government are continuing without any obstacles.

The APIIC has taken up road laying works in the area using heavy machinery. According to sources APIIC will establish Mega Food Park in the extent of 57 acres and Industrial Park in 43 acres of land. About 1,260 acres of land will be allocated for other purpose like establishing pharma, logistic manufacturing units, it is learnt.

Speaking to The Hans India, Bapulapadu MRO K Gopalakrishna clarified that the revenue department has handed over 1,360 acres of land to APIIC of which 100 acres will be allocated for community purpose. He said the government has paid compensation to 443 original beneficiaries.

By: T Sudhakar