Probably for the first time in the State, an agitation that started at the beginning of the tenure of the previous government is continuing in the second term of the same government.
The relay fast by villagers of Vemulaghat, in Toguta mandal, began on June 5, 2016 and has reached 927th day on Tuesday. The farmers of this village have been demanding implementation of the Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act – 2013 (LA Act- 2013). This village is under threat of getting submerged under Mallannasagar project coming up in Touguta and Kondapaka mandals.
Though the agitation started at Etigaddakishtapur a few weeks earlier, it had a premature death thanks to some youth and others who compromised on their demands like implementation of LA Act – 2013!
Farmers of almost all villages such as Etigaddakishtapur, Vemulaghat, Pallepahad, Toguta, Banjerpally and Rampur had already sold their lands to the government under GO 123. However about 300 plus farmers refused to sell their land of about 800 acres. They were reluctant to give up their agitation till justice was done to them.
They have repeatedly appealed to the government to implement LA Act- 2013 properly and filed more than 40 cases, out of the total 100 plus cases that were filed against the improper implementation of Land Acquisition Act.
“We are not against construction of Mallannasagar. As the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had won for the second time with thumping majority they will go ahead with the construction of the project. What we are demanding is right compensation. We hope that at least now our demands will be met,” said Hayatuddin, one of the farmers of the village.