Property rights elude Simhachalam residents

Visakhapatnam: Property rights have been haunting the residents of Simhachalam which comes under Ward No 72. Even HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao’s adopted village is no exception.

According to official records, the Ward No 72 has 20,462 population which includes 10,370 male and 10,092 female. They eke out their livelihood by cultivation and rendering services to the devotees visiting Simhachalam temple. Around 20 per cent of the population are working at Simhachalam Devastanam both directly and indirectly.

They are fighting for their land rights since 20 years and yet the problem remained. Even Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu incorporated the land issue in the election manifesto.

People in the BPL Group are not getting government houses due to the war between devasthanam, farmers of Simhachalam and house owners of villages. Officials are not accepting applications from this village by showing cause of land issue.

There are 5,000 farmers at Viginigiripalem village which is one km from Simhachalam. They depend upon cultivation and working as farm labourers. The agriculture department officers are refusing to provide seeds and agriculture loans due to disputes.

Those cultivating vegetables have no place to sell them as the nearest market place is Gopalapatnam, which is five km from their village. There is no bus service either. They rear 3,000 cattle but there is no veterinary hospital. Recently, the Minister for Animal Husbandry Ch Adinarayana Reddy assured veterinary hospital and Rythu Bazar but both are yet to be fulfilled.

HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao often visits Simhachalam temple but never discussed the people’s issues. The BRTS Road construction also created a problem to the residents of this ward. The work commenced two years ago but still it is going slow. People approached court for their compensation, which was also being claimed by devastanam also.

Recently, people opposed the construction of a road by GVMC claiming that there was a court order pending for compensation. Gram Kantam is another major issue that is preventing people from getting government housing schemes and bank loans.

Around 5,000 people are fighting for this issue. The Adivivaram Rural Health Centre built at a cost of Rs 4 crore has no doctors. After regular demand, principal of Andhra Medical College Dr SV Sudhakar assured that one gynaecologist and paediatrician would be appointed within a week.

Sidagam Gowthami: ‘Andariki illu’ is the Chief Minister’s vision but it is not applicable for us, said house wife Sidagam Gowthami, a resident of the ward. She said she lives in a hut in this smart city. The local MLA and Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao never bothered to look into our problem.

P Pydamma: Buffalos are dying due to lack of proper treatment. There is no veterinary hospital near village and to reach the hospital located at Baji Junction one has to walk for five km, said P Pydamma GVMC Zonal Commissioner N Sivaji: The corporation is ready to lay roads and construct drains but devasthanam is not cooperating, said zonal commissioner of zone 6 N Sivaji. He said BRTS Road will be completed by the end of January next year.

Balabhanu Murty a local farmer, activist: We are living like prisoners in our own houses. We are helpless as we are not getting any support from the government. The devastanm officials will not allow us to build a hut for buffaloes. The Minister has to respond immediately otherwise we bring the issue to the notice of the Chief Minister.

Pasarla Prasad: TDP district vice-president Pasarla Prasad said that the public are suffering from several unsolved issues. The government has to create rights on Grama Kantam lands, which were being enjoyed by the people since a century.

“We have taken the issues to the Chief Minister’s notice and seeking help from HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasarao,” Prasad said. K Eswara Rao, YSRCP president- 72 ward.: “There is no government in this area due to lack of committed politicians. Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao neither interacted with the local people nor solved their problems, said the ward president of YSRCP Kolusu Eswar Rao .

By Jatlee Dontala