Peddacheruvu Land Relief Row…: Buddharam farmers fume with rage over meagre compensation

Jadcherla: Not long ago, K Lachamma of Buddaram village, Gopalpet mandal, Wanaparthy district, lost 1.9 acres of land in a stategovernment land acquisition. This is the second time, and senior citizens had to spend sleepless nights to lose the piece of land they had left. Speaking to The Hans India, Lachamma says revenue officials from the local mandal office came and pasted a notice on her door. She is not the only one; about 100 farmers in Buddaram village have been living with the Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads. Explaining the situation, one of the farmers, Srinivas Rao, said the notice conveys a simple message: “Take whatever compensation is given and get out of the lands,” or “else, the government will have its way to sway over whatever it takes to take our lands,” he pointed out.

When asked, Dharma Rao, another farmer, said there are about 100-odd farmers, several of whom had earlier given up their lands for the construction of canals under irrigation projects that take water downstream. Last year, they had given compensation of Rs 12 lakh per acre and took their lands. This is the second time land acquisition has come knocking at their doors, and this time it’s in the name of Peddacheruvutriggered displacement. “The market rate of the land per acre stands at Rs 45 lakh. Initially, the local MLA and others promised higher compensation, as in several other farmers' displacement cases. However, “now our MLA from Wanaparthy, T Megha Reddy, is shying away, and our plea to him fell on deaf ears.”

Adding, the farmers said that the patta land is one they have cultivated since their forefathers' time. They have mango and teak trees, along with piles and pumps, which they invested in to cultivate the land. However, “the officials are treating us like beggars, and we had to make rounds around the local joint collector and revenue offices for months.”

On compensation, the farmers said they have asked for market-rate compensation or land for land. Then, “We have scaled down to 50 per cent, asking for Rs 20 lakh, a house and job for those who were losing their lands.” However, the officials are talking to us sweetly, expressing concern about our woes but saying, “They have been under pressure from higher-ups not to increase the compensation. Now, they ask us to take Rs 15 lakhs and leave our lands.” When the farmers insisted on better compensation, a local official from the MRO office recently came to their village and pasted notices telling them to take whatever was offered and leave their lands, they said. They also said they doubt whether their MLA or the concerned officials have taken their pleas to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy or the ministers in the state capital to consider their plight and increase the compensation. Or, some middlemen are leaving them to drown in their cuts, preventing their voices from reaching the corridors of power of the People’s Government in the state capital.

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VRC Phaniharan

VRC Phaniharan[email protected]