Farmers assns to hold mega conference in city

Vijayawada: Representatives of various Farmers Associations on Thursday decided to hold a mega conference in the city next month to discuss and formulate a strategy to check the forcible land acquisition in the state. They decided to invite social activists and environmentalists like Prashant Bhushan, Medha Patkar, Yogendra Yadav and others for the conference and take suggestions from the latter to protect the lands of the farmers.

Representatives of various Farmers Associations attended a round- table conference at the Press Club here on Thursday and discussed the plight of the farmers in view of the land acquisition threat posed from the state government in various districts.
The leaders alleged that the government is forcibly acquiring thousands of acres land in the state from farmers in the name of constructing the projects and the capital.

Former Minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao, K Vijaya Rao, son of former Union Minister K L Rao, Y Nagendranath, Andhra Pradesh Rytu Sangham leaders Y Keshava Rao, Ravula Venkaiah and others participated in the round-table conference.

Speaking on the occasion, Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao said that farmers are concerned over the forcible land acquisition in the state. He said the government is acquiring thousands of acres land on the pretext of constructing airports, ports, industrial parks, capital and other projects.

He alleged that the government is allocating the lands to private educational institutions at throw away prices. Yerneni Nagendranath, farmers leader, said that farmers are panicked with the decision of the government to set up Land Bank in the state.