Srisailam, Palamuru oustees seek justice

Mahbubnagar: It has been an endless wait for the evacuees of the Srisailam Project for jobs, which were promised to them when they gave up their lands and houses for the construction of the project, which began in 1963 and ended in 1981. Although the people are getting water for irrigation and for generating electricity, the displaced persons did not get justice till now.

Though several governments have changed over the decades, the fate of the displaced has not changed. While the displaced of the Srisailam reservoir were yet to get justice even after so many years, a similar fate awaits the evacuees of the Palamuru Lift Irrigation Scheme. The scheme, after completion, ensures the utilisation of the flood waters of Jurala project to meet the irrigation requirements of Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy and Nalgonda districts.

The Srisailam project could be completed only after the people of 65 villages covering Kollapur, Alampur and Wanaparthi constituencies sacrificed their lands and houses for its construction. But, unfortunately, till now, they did not get justice though the successive state governments promised them adequate compensation and jobs to one member of every family. The victims have been running from pillar to post to get jobs for over thirty years but to no avail.

They have been holding protest meetings and agitating but the government remains indifferent. The previous Congress government headed by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy issued GO No 58 to pay compensation and provide jobs to 300 affected families. However, the officials have only listed 200 families as victims of the inundated villages and gave jobs to only 42 members. Among the remaining 158 members, 136 were appointed on temporary basis.

However, as several displaced persons were already dead, those who could not apply at that time have applied for jobs now and the figure has reached 2,000. The children of the deceased are also trying hard to get employment. They expect to get justice at least in the new Telangana State. For the past one week, the displaced of the Srisailam Project have been taking part in relay hunger strikes at the Telangana Chowk in the town demanding justice.

Three years ago, the then Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy who was visiting the district, came to know of their plight and provided jobs to 126 people on a temporary basis and to eight others on the basis of outsourcing. After tendering apologies to them, he assured them that their services would be regularised gradually.

However, on the basis of guidelines, 80 per cent non-locals from Mahbubnagar and 20 per cent locals in Kurnool were given jobs in the Irrigation Department in Kurnool district. Now, the displaced persons of the Palamuru Lift Irrigation Project are extremely worried over the loss of their lands and three persons lost their lives as the government was getting ready to lay the foundation stone for the project without giving them any assurance. Speaking to The Hans India, they are unsure of getting jobs and compensation. They said that the government should go ahead with the project only after giving them adequate compensation.

By:Narendra Chari