Mahbubnagar: Oustees stall Udandapur reservoir works

Mahbubnagar: The construction of Udandapur reservoir works came to a standstill with a large number of farmers and others from surrounding villages who lost their lands under the reservoir came out on to roads and staged a protest at the construction site, forcing the contractors to stop the works temporarily on Wednesday.

In fact, for the Udandapur reservoir, the State government has acquired nearly 2,000 acres under Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRRLIS). While it paid compensation to 90 per cent of farmers, the remaining 10 per cent of oustees are yet to get the aid.

Moreover, nearly seven to eight villages adjoining the gram panchayats of Udandapur and Vollur are going to get submerged under the reservoir. For them, the State government had promised to pay adequate compensation besides rehabilitating them and had announced a package of providing Rs 8-12 lakh to every family for building a 2BHK house at a suitable place near Jadcherla.

However, even though a year had gone past, the contractors have been carrying out the bund construction works at a fast pace in the agriculture lands of farmers without fully addressing the problems and issues of them. Expressing their angst against the attitude of the officials who were deliberately delaying the payment of compensation, the oustees staged a protest and stopped the works.

"So far, the government had paid only a part of the payment for our lands, and not a single household in the village got the aid for construction of houses.

Without paying the dues, the government had given nod to the contractors for taking up works. We will not allow them to do carryout any work until the government pays the promised compensation to us," said Bashya Nayak of Vollur village.

Some of the villagers also informed that earlier the officials conducted a survey and demarcated the final boundary for the reservoir and deposited the amounts in the bank accounts of farmers concerned. However, after a few days, they again conducted a second survey and changed the final demarcation and further increased the land for the reservoir.

"Earlier, they said the reservoir would have a capacity up to 9-10 tmcft, but now, they are saying it has been increased to more than 16 tmcft and acquired additional land.

They are taking up the construction works in the land surveyed for the second time without paying us the compensation. We have expressed our reservation on this and stopped the works. Works will resume only after full compensation is paid to us," said Ravi, a former Sarpanch of Vollur village.

Moreover, the villagers are also expressing their dissent over government showing them house construction site in the hilly and rugged areas which are not inhabitable. The oustees are demanding that they be given land nearby Jadcherla.

"We need a completely developed rehabilitation area which should be close to the urban Jadcherla mandal. We are demanding double bedroom houses to all the family members who are married with roads, schools and other facilities. Until the government provides us all these facilities, we will not allow them to take up the reservoir construction works," said a protesting farmer.

A few other farmers also demanded enhanced compensation for their lands. Earlier, the government had paid us Rs 4.5 to 5 lakh per acre. However, we are demanding compensation on par with those farmers who are paid in other areas like Mallannasagar.