Vamshadhara evacuees demand payment of arrears

Srikakulam: The displaced people of the Vamshadhara project demanded that the clearance of arrears under the youth package scheme before taking up of works relating to the project.

Otherwise, the works would be stalled, they warned. Minister for Welfare of Backward Classes K Atchannaidu conducted a review meeting with the displaced and the officials at the Collectorate in the town on Wednesday along with Pathapatnam MLA K Venkata Ramana, MP K Rammohan Naidu, along with officials.

On the occasion, the displaced families who attended the meeting alleged that there was political interference in the payment of arrears under youth package payments leading to anomalies. They demanded that the government pay the youth package for each house without showing any partiality.

They also pointed out that around 1,500 youth were waiting for payments to be made in all 24 villages when the Minister tried to explain that they have so far paid to 2,500 youth in all the affected villages.

Responding to their demand, District Collector K Dhanunjaya Reddy assured them that a separate cell would be opened at the Collectorate to redress all the grievances regarding rehabilitation and re-settlement (R&R) and clearing the youth package.

He also assured them that steps would be taken to allot house sites for all the displaced families on an equal basis when some of the displaced said that they were not given the promised five cents of land for house sites.

Minister Atchannaidu said that in case any head of the family of the displaced dies before receiving arrears, the cheque/payment would be given to his legal heir.

The police thwarted the attempts of some of the agitating displaced persons when they tried to barge into the Collectorate during the review meeting leading to a minor scuffle.