Bethapudi ryots oppose land acquisition

- Farmers say they are cultivating three crops in these 260 acres sought by the govt
- A farmer and MLA Ramakrishna Reddy will file a writ against the govt in High Court soon

Amaravati: The farmers of Bethapudi village are up in arms against the State government for taking an initiative to acquire 260 acres of
land in the village for the construction of capital. The farmers are preparing to file a writ petition in the High Court against this
acquisition.

They are demanding the government to exempt their lands from acquisition because they are cultivating three crops in a year and said
that they will lose their livelihood if lands are acquired. Meanwhile, the CRDA officials are holding meetings to create awareness among
farmers to part with their lands in Bethapudi. K Venkateswaraulu, a farmer said “I am earning Rs 18-lakh revenue per year by raising
flower gardens in my two acres of land in Bethapudi and selling the flowers in Kaleswararao Market in Vijayawada.

If the land is acquired, I will lose my livelihood since I can’t do any other work. My land which will fetch Rs 3 crore per acre in open
market, will fetch me nominal compensation, if govt acquires it” he says and adds that he will move a writ petition in the court against
the land acquisition. Another farmer K Siva Reddy, adds “There is no logic in acquiring cultivable lands which fetch 3 crops for us and I
request government to drop the plan.”

Supporting their cause, MLA A Rama Krishna Reddy who visited Bethapudi village on Sunday extended his support to the farmers and
made it clear that the government should not acquire lands which are cultivating multiple-crops and asked farmers not to worry about
acquisition and told them that he would move High Court if necessary to halt it. “Earlier, High Court stayed the proposal of the officials’s
move to relocate 52 houses to construct Pushkar Ghat in Tadepalli mandal.” Reddy added.