New-found riches drain relations among Polavaram oustees

​Kothagudem: The lifestyle of the displaced people of the Polavaram Irrigation Project has changed with the tremendous amounts of money they received from the government as compensation for their lost lands. The people who never dreamt of such huge amounts are enjoying the rich lifestyle by spending lavishly.

However, the changed lifestyles are also turning the relations between the family members sour. Several instances of where adolescents and youth threatening their parents with committing suicides were seen when the parents refused to buy them high-end modern motorbikes. The parents are finally forced to bow to the demands of their wards.

Serious differences are also cropping up among siblings because of differences in their respective shares in the new found riches.

The government acquired about 12,000 acres of land from farmers of Kukunoor and Velarupadu mandal and deposited Rs 1,400 crore in the farmers’ accounts. The compensation for each acre is Rs 10.5 lakh.

Worrisome situation is that the families which never visited police stations are now lodging complaints against their blood relatives. There are even a few instances where brothers were seen attacking their sisters for demanding their share.

The displaced persons, who got Rs 50 lakh to Rs one crore, are buying high-end cars, while those who got lesser amounts are settling for two-wheelers.

As many as 300 new vehicles have been purchased by the displaced persons in Kukunoor mandal alone. With enormous amounts in hand, new habits like addiction to alcohol have also come to the forefront. At least, six people died in 18 accidents that occurred in inebriated condition recently.