Telangana: Farmers can take back land

Hyderabad: Those who lost their land to irrigation projects prior to the enactment of TS Land  Acquisition Act, 2016 can seek their property back and claim compensation afresh under the new law

The TS government had earlier acquired land under GO 123 and faced protests  from farmers. The government has now given them the option to give away lands as per new Act.

Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao said the government would issue notifications for land parcels that were acquired earlier, and seek applications from farmers on whether they want to claim compensation under new TS Land Acquisition Act.

A stipulated time will be given for farmers to submit applications. If farmers fail to  submit applications within the deadline, it will be deemed to be farmers satisfied with old compensation.

Mr Harish Rao on Monday held a video conference with collectors to review the progress of irrigation projects in state.

Mr Rao directed collectors to speed up land acquisition as per the new TS Land Act, which came into force in May this year.

He said large number of farmers were displaced for construction of Mid-Manair  and Pulichintala projects and though the government had built colonies for them  they lacked basic facilities.

Mr Rao directed collectors to provide all infrastructure facilities in the colonies of displaced on a war footing.

Mr Rao asked officials to speed up land acquisition as per TS Land Act for  Gandamalla, Baswapur reservoirs, which are part of Kaleshwaram project. “Our target is to ensure flow of Godavari water to Yadadri district by July 2018. 

This will give a permanent solution for drought in Yadadri district,” he said. Mr Rao wanted officials to speed up modernisation of the Lakshmi, Saraswati and Kakatiya canals falling under the Sriramsagar project.