Villagers demand good compensation for lands

Vijayawada: People, who gave their lands for widening of the Vijayawada-Machilipatnam national highway in Penamaluru and Kankipadu mandals, demanded that the government pay suitable compensation as per the guidelines given by the Central government. They said injustice was meted out to them in payment of compensation for their lands and buildings.

Hundreds of petty traders, building owners incurred loss due to demolition of buildings for widening the national highway. These people are fighting for suitable compensation and moved the judicial court also. People of Gosala, Eedpugallu, Ganguru and Kankipadu on Saturday attended a meeting at the sub-collector’s office organised by Joint Collector and Arbitrator P Babu Rao, who was appointed by the Union government since the land was taken for widening of the national highway.

Nearly, 200 people with their counsels attended the meeting on Saturday. They said the government paid only Rs 2,800 per square metres land as compensation and demanded suitable compensation as per the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. The farmers said the revenue department paid compensation of Rs 60,000 per square metre to the farmers of Poranki and Kanuru.

Land prices are very high along the national highway from Vijayawada to Kankipadu. So, the land owners were reluctant to give their lands for widening of Vijayawada-Machilipatnam highway since long time. After many years of meetings and discussions, the land owners came forward to give the lands.

Several hundred of shops, houses and commercial establishments were demolished along the national highway from Tadigadapa to Kankipadu and beyond for widening of the highway. Under the supervision of National Highways Authority of India, the highway widening works are continuing at a brisk pace for more than a year.

Gangisetty Rajeswara Rao, High Court advocate, who attended the meeting on behalf of the petitioners said the villagers of Gosala, Eedupugallu, Ganguru and Kankipadu are asking for suitable compensation.

He said only one notification was given to acquire land in six villages but there was a variation in payment of compensation to the six villages. Land owners of four villages got very less compensation, he said and demanded that they should be given suitable compensation as per LA Act 2013.

R Venkateswara Rao of Gosala said they would appeal in the higher court if they did not get suitable compensation. He said several hundreds of families were badly affected due to demolition of shops and houses along the road.

He said these villages are in hopeless condition and have been waiting for the help from the government. The petitioners narrated their problems in the meeting and sought for suitable compensation.

Responding to it, Joint Collector and Arbitrator P Babu Rao said he would follow the rules prescribed in the Land Acquisition Act and would refer the issue to the higher officials. He said the villagers of Poranki and Kanuru had got the highest compensation.

Referring to the grievances of other four villages he said he would look into the issue. The revenue department convened the meeting on Saturday to collect grievances from the petitioners, who lost their properties, due to widening of the highway.