Land grab charge on TD MLA Yerapathineni Srinivasa Rao

Vijayawada: A pubic representative of the Telugu Desam from Guntur district is facing land-grabbing allegations. By deploying his benamis in the lands of a villager, the TD MLA is allegedly threatening the villager to give up ownership on the three acres land where huge limestone reserves are there. This is the third incident of land-grabbing case in a span of two weeks, across the state, wherein the involvement of the TD’s public representatives is reported by the locals.

In fact, incidents took place that two years ago in Palnadu have indicated that there were clashes between the TD and the YSR Congress groups over the illegal mining of limestone in the region. Protesting the rampant illegal mining of limestone allegedly being undertaken by the groups, led by Telugu Desam Gurazala MLA Yerapathineni Srinivasa Rao two years ago, YSR Congress leaders staged a mega protest demonstration also.

The protest was followed by a visit to two mining sites at Koonati village in Piduguralla mandal and Nadikudi village in Dachepalli mandal under Palnadu region. The two mining leases granted to the ACC Cements have expired long back and since then, locals have been mining in small quantities. But, following the change of government, the Gurazala MLA forcibly began mining activities, according to the locals.

When the issue of life threat from Mr Sreenivasa Rao was brought to his attention, the MLA termed that as a baseless allegation. “One Dhriva Narayana Sarma, a YSRC leader, was into illegal mining and has earned huge money,” the MLA alleged, and clarified that there is no threat from him or his followers to the life of Mr Dhriva Narayana Sarma.

However, Narayana Sarma has been alleging that the MLA’s benamis are threatening him and he was asked to leave away the land of three acres which he owns. Mr Sarma is afraid of going to Palnadu following the threat from MLA’s men. In fact, in the combined state, the then superintendent of police was transferred when he tried to address the issue of illegal mining in the Palnadu region.