10 yrs on, Yellampalli oustees yet to get compensation

Mancheriyal (Adilabad): The evacuees or displaced persons of the Sreepada Yellampalli projects in the district are yet to be rehabilitated with adequate compensation. These people have lost their lands under the Yellampalli project as their villages would be submerged. They are facing immense hardships for the past few years.

Under this project, eight villages like Gudipeta, Nanoor, Chandanapur, Rapalli, Kondapalli, Karnamamidi and Arthanapalli would be submerged; but they were not paid compensatory packages. No land was provided to the displaced persons under the R & R package. The people of some other villages did not get the full compensatory package.

Although the foundation stone for the Yellampalli project was laid by the then Chief Minister, the late Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy, in September, 2004, the displaced persons were not given compensation even after 10 years though the evacuees were forced to run around the government offices several times.

Speaking to the media here on Tuesday, Narasamma and Mallamma, two of the victims of the project who lost their lands bemoaned that their lands were forcibly taken away but they were not paid compensation though they were made to run from pillar to post. Although several officials changed during the last 10 years, their fate remained the same.

They alleged that some officials were showing discriminatory attitude against them and were harassing them unnecessarily. While in other villages, only nominal charges were paid, they said. In Karnamamidi village, nearly 300 villagers held a protest demonstration at the Yellampalli Land Acquisition Office but there was no response from the officials. They said that it was unfortunate that no action was taken even after the local MLA gave an assurance.

The displaced persons warned that they would be forced to commit suicide if the government fails to pay them adequate compensation.