NBWs served on farmers for opposing solar power plant

Anantapur: The police served non-bailable warrants issued by a criminal court to the 35 farmers, including a politician, in Anantapur district recently. All 35 residents of Ganjikuntapalle are appearing before Peddavaduguru police on Wednesday evening. Villagers of Ganjikuntapalle staged protest against the MEIL solar power plant and opposed the 'indiscriminate' exploitation of groundwater at a public hearing recently. They had destroyed furniture and construction material of the plant. The police filed criminal cases against 33 farmers, alleged farmers' organisation leader Obula Konda Reddy and YSRCP leader Sarath Chandra Reddy. Konda Reddy said people were 'misguided' by the company before land acquisition saying that only a solar plant was being installed. After seeing mini-wells at a depth of 20 ft spread over two acres, people got worried about 'exploitation' of ground water in drought-hit Ananthapur district.

He said the villagers were opposed to the project as they were concerned about drawing of groundwater and digging of a special channel diverting rain water from the Pulivanka natural water lake, and for many farmers not receiving compensation. Besides, the company had not taken permission from the Groundwater department. Reddy pointed out that people were also opposed to the construction of fencing around the plant as they were forced to walk about eight km to reach their homes and fields.