Somasila oustees yet to get their due

An endless wait for compensation

Kadapa: The people of Malinenipatnam village in Atlur mandal are in no way benefited by the Somasila project. Instead, they got displaced by the project executed across Penna River in Nellore district. The displaced people are yet to get compensation though they were evacuated from Malinenipatnam way back in 2006. About 100 villages in Vontimitta, Gopavaram, Siddhavatam, Nandalur and Atlur mandals in Kadapa district got submerged under the Somasila project. People of most of the submerged villages had already received compensation and rehabilitation benefits.

Though the displaced people of Malinenipatnam have been making rounds to the revenue offices for the past one decade seeking payment of compensation, no steps have been taken in this regard. Many deadlines set by the government and the court for payment of compensation lapsed. Following several representations from the displaced, the State Government directed the Special Collector of Somasila Project long ago to make a proposal for payment of compensation as per the SSR rates of 2003.

When the proposal failed to see the light, the oustees moved the High Court. The court also directed the Special Collector to prepare the report at the earliest. The revenue officials used to cite lame excuses time and again that they could not conduct the survey of land and other properties due to submersion of the village under Somasila water.

The villagers approached the High Court again in 2007 for compensation when nothing materialised. Following a court directive, the Revenue officials came up with a proposal for payment of compensation to the oustees by taking into consideration their agricultural lands only. The non-consideration of the houses and other properties for payment of compensation was taken to the notice of the court which responded positively.

Even after the lapse of one year, the oustees did not get compensation which prompted them to move the court once again in 2008. The court directed the Revenue officials to pay adequate compensation to the oustees by 2010. The land acquisition authorities moved the court in 2009 on payment of compensation and got a stay order.

The issue has been pending for the past seven years. No political party or people’s representative has come to the rescue of Malinenipatnam oustees. The displaced people are finding it extremely difficult to make ends meet as they do not have assured income or guaranteed employment. Narrating their plight to The Hans India, Venkata Subba Reddy, farmer of Malinenipatnam, said: “The successive governments have failed to ensure justice to the Somasila project oustees. We are in total despair as it seems to be no end to our wait for compensation.”