Villagers boycott Janmabhoomi

Eluru: Villages of Itukalakota village situated near Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (PLIS) delivery point boycotted the Janmabhoomi-Maa Vooru meeting in West Godavari district on Wednesday. Mandal parishad development officer Nirmala Jyothi, assistant project officer T Venkat Rao and other officials reached Itukalakota village in Polavaram mandal to conduct the Janmabhoomi programme in the morning.

Soon after starting the programme, villagers rose on their feet and had a heated argument with the officials on their problems. Villagers Tellam Suryachandram, Sariam Ramalakshmi and Sunnam Gangajalam speaking on the occasion alleged that the village faced a flood threat two times three months ago as the Pedrala Kalva and other rivulets overflowed and entered the village.

Due to floods, villagers lost their cattle and some houses washed away. Later, officials and people’s representatives visited the village and assured of justice to the victims. However, no compensation has been paid by the officials so far, they said. They reminded that mandal officials had said that they would bring the issue to the notice of higher officials but no action was initiated so far.

They questioned officials why arrived at their village when they did not fulfil the assurances made during the floods. Following the verbal spat between officials and the people, villagers boycotted the meeting. Officials waited at the venue for some time with a hope of return of the villagers.