Displaced demand R&R package under Land Acquisition Act, 2013

Srikakulam: The victims of Vamsadhara reservoir in Hiramandalmandal poured their woes before the Additional Senior Civil Judge (ASCJ) P Vivekananda Srinivas and petitioner KV Jagannadha Rao.

On the direction of High Court (HC) judicature at Hyderabad for Telangana and AP, the ASCJ and petitioner inspectedstanding crops in five villages, Garlapadu, Tulagam, Duggupuram,Padali and Chinnasankili on Saturday.

Human Rights Forum (HRF) vice-president KV Jagannadha Rao filed a public interest litigation (PIL)in the HC through his advocate Vasudha Nagaraj seeking stay orderon damage of standing crops, where officials took digging works for reservoirand afavourable order for displaced by applying New Land AcquisitionAct, 2013 for payment of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) package.

The HC expressed serious concern over damage of crops and directed district judge to appoint a senior civiljudge for inspection lands in five villages along with petitioner.

When the ASCJ and petitioner inspecting lands in the villages, farmerspoured their woes before the judge and explained how they arebeing harassed by police, revenue and other officials. They showed damaged paddy crop fields to them and thejudge also inspected red gram, cotton and other crop photographs onthe occasion. The judge explained that he will report over existenceof standing crops to the HC. The entire inspection process lasted morethan six hours and farmers explained their problems.

In each village, at least 250 to 300 farmers and locals explained their woes seeking bettercompensation. When the displaced people tried to submit memorandums, the judge refused to receive them saying it is not his job andsuggested them to submit them through proper authorities. The judge said his job is confined only to inspect lands and report whether standing crops are in existenceor not.