Telangana: Collector is threatening, say farmers

Hyderabad: A day after a farmer attempted suicide at Gajwel, other farmers who are losing land to the ORR in the town claimed despite a stay order in the court on the work, the collector had threatened them that the road would be laid over their dead bodies.

A case of attempt to suicide was registered at the Gajwel police station against Narsimhulu, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the city.

Narsimhulu’s father on Sunday tried lodging a complaint against government officials for trespassing into his lands but was dissuaded by local politicians, who promised him a solution in a couple of days.

They claimed that as per the original ORR plan, the road was passing at least 200 metres away from their land. The ali-gnments were changed recently, and is now projected to run on their la-nd. As per the new alignment, the project was pa-ssing through a lake also, but after activists ap-proached National Gre-en Tribunal, the works were stopped.

Three persons, whose lands fall under the new aligned project area, had approached the High Court which ordered status quo on the lands and directed the government not to proceed with the project in a hurried ma-nner and follow all nor-ms of land acquisition.

Despite the court orders, officials had been continuously advancing to ‘encroach’ on the land using their power, the farmers claimed.

On Saturday also, Gajwel Area Development Authority officials instr-ucted the contractor and R&B officials to start wo-rks at the disputed lands.

A team from R&B and contractor arrived at the spot with heavy machinery. On learning about this, the land owners rushed to the spot. While the owners cited court orders, the officials reportedly threatened them.

"All this are being carried out on the directions and instructions of GADA officials who have a special interest in the ORR." said a farmer.