All alone, Vemulaghat villagers look up to High Court

SIDDIPET: Vemulaghat villagers are anxiously awaiting further developments in the wake of the grama sabha held as per the directions of the High Court. People of other villages, which are prone to submergence if the proposed Mallanna Sagar reservoir is built, have budged under government’s pressure and agreed to give their lands but the Vemulaghat villagers have been, from the beginning, steadfast in their demand for a fair compensation. 

In their long-drawn struggle, Vemulaghat villagers had an upper hand thrice. They got GO No.123 cancelled, obtained stay from the National Green Tribunal  on the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project and forced the authorities to hold grama sabha thanks to court’s intervention. A grama sabha was held at Vemulaghat on October 21 on the directions of the High Court. Siddipet RDO Muthyam Reddy said then that the meeting was being held as per the directions of the court and the video footage of the proceedings would be submitted to the court.

The villagers too recorded the proceedings on their own. Mallanna Sagar Porata Samithi leader K Srinivas Reddy said they would submit the recorded video to the court on Wednesday. Reddy said they were confident that they would get justice and compensation as per the Land Act 2013. He said the RDO had promised to give them a copy of the minutes of the grama sabha but had not kept his word till Tuesday. He alleged that without writing the minutes the RDO had asked them to sign the papers and they refused to do it

While farmers are waiting for further court orders, officials will move forward  on land acquisition after submitting details to the court. Officials said that a notification had already been issued for acquisition of farmlands. The Siddipet joint collector was appointed as the project administrator for rehabilitation of the submergence-prone villages and the government wants to start the project works as scheduled. On the other hand, villagers are determined not to allow officials to touch their lands.

 Award enquiry held in Kondapak mandal
Officials have ordered award enquiry in villages where lands have  already been registered with the government for Mallanna Sagar Reservoir. On Tuesday, Siddipet RDO Muthyam Reddy visited Erravelli village in and held meeting with farmers. 

Objections of Sundilla oustees recorded
Oustees of Sundilla barrage in Kaleshwaram project, hailing from Uppatla, Kashipeta and Siripuram, attended the representation receiving programme at Manthani RDO office on Tuesday. About 29 farmers, who will lose farm lands in the project,  attended the meet.