Is the Mallannasagar impasse nearing a solution? Are land oustees of Vemulaghat getting ready to accept the compensation being offered by the government?
According to sources there are strong indications that the issue is likely to be resolved in a few days.
Work on 50 tmcft reservoir Mallannasgar, a part of the Kaleshwaram project, was held up due to the land oustees from Vemulaghat village not accepting the compensation of ₹6 lakh per acre offered by the government under GO 123.
One of the major problems leading to the protest was that some farmers of Etigaddakishtapur and other villages received a compensation of only ₹ 5.85 lakh per acre under that GO.
According to sources the authorities told the farmers of Vemulaghat that the government was actively considering substantially increasing the compensation amount.
Delegation talks
Siddipet Collector D. Krishna Bhaskar, Rajananna-Sircilla Collector P. Venkataram Reddy, vice chairman of the Gajwel Area Development Authority (GADA) A. Muthyam Reddy and some other senior officials reportedly held discussions with land oustees from the village late Saturday night which was facilitated former MLA and TRS leader Cheruku Muthyam Reddy.
Mr. Muthyam Reddy who joined the ruling party just prior to the elections after being denied ticket by the Congress party, was one of the strongest supporters of the ongoing agitation by farmers facing submergence by the proposed Mallannasagar.
“We have held only informal discussions so far. We are exploring the options of increasing rate per acre which was positively responded to. There is a long way to go before we finalise,” said an officer, on condition of anonymity.
Other issues
Apart from enhancement of land price, the authorities have also reportedly offered some other sops for the land oustees and one has to wait and see whether these will remain on paper or empty promises.
“The land oustees have a bitter experience of unkept promises in the past and several farmers under Kondapochamma held series of protests last year demanding that the authorities implement those promises. This time also whether the promises will be acted upon or not has to be seen,” said one of the land oustees who took part in the discussions.
However, despite ongoing discussions, the villagers continued their agitation on Sunday as well and it has reached 946th day. The villagers said that they would continue the agitation till value for structures and other issues were settled.