Land acquisition put on hold for a week

​Thoguta (Medak): District Collector Ronald Rose has on Tuesday directed the Revenue officials to halt Mallanna Sagar land acquisition survey for a week, after hearing the concerns expressed by the people of Etigadda Kishtapur and Vemulghat villages of Thoguta mandal.

For the past few days, situation has been tense in Etigadda Kishtapur village, as Revenue officials were confronted by angry villagers who did not want their lands and houses to be surveyed as they were not satisfied with the compensation being offered by the government in return for alienating their lands.

It may be recalled that angry villagers tried to attack Muthyam Reddy, Revenue Divisional Officer, on Monday. Police lathi-charged the crowd and at least 10 women were rendered unconscious in the incident.

Political leaders including Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Raghunandan Rao, Nandyana Narasimha Reddy and others offered their support to the villagers. A padayatra from Etigadda Kishtapur to RDO office in Siddipet was also held by CPI (M) workers and villagers of Etigadda Kishtapur and Vemulghat.

On Tuesday, District Collector himself had to intervene to assuage the situation and listened to what the villagers had to say. He explained to the villagers about the intricacies of Land Acquisition Act of 2013 and also the contents of the GO 123 and GO 214.

He asked the villagers not to panic and assured that the government stands by their side. He gave the villagers a week time to decide whether they wanted their land to be acquired using the 2013 act or GO 123. He would be holding a gram sabha with the villagers after a week once again.