Farmers confused over options in Amaravati

Amaravati: The 502 options given to pooled farmers to apply for reconstituted plots are confusing and  further delaying the process of submission of applications.

The CRDA had earlier announced May 10 as the  last date for the receipt of applications, but due to the poor response, this date has been extended to May 20. The pooled farmers, who are objecting to some norms, are seeking clarification of their doubts before putting in their applications.

The CRDA, worried by the poor response to the notification for reconstituted plots, has been conducting awareness meetings in the villages of  the Amaravati capital region.

The awareness meetings on zoning norms of reconstituted plots were held in Tullur, Mandadam, Uddandarayunipalem and other villages where  the pooled farmers demanded that the CRDA first show at least one layout as a model in one of the villages in the Amaravati capital region for them to know about plot sizes and areas.

Nearly 21,500 farmers had offered their farmland under the Land Pooling  Scheme (LPS) for which the CRDA had to return nearly 12,000 acres of  lands as developed residential and commercial plots.

Further, the pooled farmers have also been dissatisfied over the restrictions on the  construction of commercial complexes and are demanding allowing all  types of businesses in the Amaravati capital region.

Pooled farmers N. Sobhanadri and others said that the C2 commercial zone was allotted to the pooled farmers and they were limited to doing only few businesses, which was totally biased. They lamented that schools and  educational institutions were not allowed there besides other  businesses too.

They felt that the CRDA was not recognising the sacrifices they had made in giving up their valuable farmland for the sake of the capital’s construction, and now they were up against all these  restrictions. 

They added that the CRDA ought to allow the running of all types of businesses, including  small grocery shops, a weighing centre, bank ATMs,  bakery, hostel, wholesale shops and vehicle parking. 

The farmers also wanted a change in the setback norms and multiple floors to be allowed in the  residential and commercial plots which would enable them to earn some extra  income.

Guntur joint collector Ch. Sridhar said that the CRDA prepared zoning norms and a plot allocation system after careful study of the LPS in various cities of India.
He added that the CRDA  was letting people know about the allocation of reconstituted plots through a booklet it had released which it was asking the pooled farmers to read carefully and then apply for the reconstituted plots.