Solar power plant: Farmers cry foul over non-payment of compensation

Anantapur: The Nambulapulakunta solar power plant, the biggest in South India set to commence production of 250 mw on April 24, being taken up the State government as a prestige issue is severely impacting lives of poor farmers as they have been denied compensation after giving up their lands. They have been cultivating the lands for several generations.

The ryots are being exploited by both officials and middlemen, taking advantage of their innocence. Normally, three times the land value should be paid as compensation to the farmers as per the Land Acquisition Act, without taking into consideration whether they are patta or other category lands.

But, officials have ignored the guidelines and held discussions with farmers promising to pay Rs 1 lakh to each family. The officials look the other way after farmers’ organisations and Left parties backed the agitation launched by farmers. The agitators describe the government‘s stand to pay compensation to farmers cultivating its land as ‘unconstitutional’.

Led by district CPM secretary Rambhupal, they have threatened to continue the struggle till the promised amounts are paid. Former CPM secretary Prakash Karat and State secretary P Madhu had visited the plant site and convened meetings of farmers. Officials had acquired 10,153 acres, including 623 acres of patta land, in Nambulapulakunta, P Kothapalli and Pedaballi village panchayats of Nambulapulakunta mandal.

The rest is government land, which was being cultivated by farmers for decades. The government had announced payment of Rs 3.25 lakh per acre of patta land and Rs 2.25 lakh for government land, after identifying 456 pattadars and 1,156 farmers in Gram Sabha announcements.

Names of 432 persons were deleted after an official inquiry following the agitation which was organised because of exclusion of farmers. Later, 162 pattadars were identified. Although compensation of Rs 3.25 lakh per acre has been paid, it is yet to reach 101 farmers holding patta land and 724 cultivators.

The government had earlier promised to pay Rs 2.25 lakh per acre as compensation to those cultivating its lands. A farmer of Danamreddypalli, Ramachandra Reddy, told The Hans India that he and his brother holding 18 acres, have not been paid ‘even a paisa’. They appealed to the government to render justice to them ‘at least now’.

Marekka of Nambulapulakunta alleged her husband died while making trips seeking compensation. She wants officials to take action for payment of compensation.