Collector opens bridge amid ryots' protest

Bid to pave way for Ambuja cement factory A Gurajala (Guntur): Amid protests of farmers opposing Ambuja cement factory, Guntur District Collector S Suresh Kumar opened a bridge on Naguleru, constructed by the factory management on Tuesday. The Rs 50-lakh structure connecting Inuparajupalle of Karampudi mandal and Gogulapadu of Gurajala mandal was inaugurated in a secret way, apparently to avoid farmers agitating against the factory. None of the local representatives, who have been spearheading the movement against the coming up factory in the area, were invited for the inauguration. The farmers led by these leaders also protested the inauguration. They raised slogans against the factory and cement company management. They demanded the Collector to provide justice. MLC TGV Krishna Reddy and other leaders interacted with the Collector on behalf of the farmers affected by the cement factory. He informed the Collector that the cement company was deceiving the farmers for about a decade over the disputed factory. He said he came to the village to sympathise with the farmers agitating for several years opposing the factory. The MLC stayed away from the bridge inauguration. A Interestingly, the cement company management extended invitation to RDO Aruna Babu who accompanied the Collector.A The cement company management has been trying to win the confidence of the local people in the wake of opposition to the factory delayed by about 10 years. The company started the work of the bridge on March 8 last year and completed the structure in one year. A The bridge improved transportation facilities to villages of Kachavaram, Inuparajupalle, Takkellapadu, Bhattuvaripalli and Gadevaripalle of Karampudi mandal from Gogulapadu village of Gurajala mandal. Claiming support of local people for the construction of the bridge, Ambuja Cement Limited general manager M Sanjeeva Rao said that the factory had mobilised the support of farmers of the villages concerned before embarking on the exercise. Earlier, Collector Suresh Kumar offered special prayers at Neelakantheswara Swamy temple at Gogulapadu. The MLC made his presence during the Collector's visit of the temple and briefed him about the significance of the temple. He requested cooperation of the district administration for building Mukha Mandapam of the temple.