Denied livelihood, Land Pooling Scheme farmers begin tilling

Guntur: Farmers who had pooled their lands for the establishment of new capital Amaravati are now restarting their cultivation activity. Officials are worried as it will convey a negative image about Amaravati.

The foundation stone for Amaravati was laid on October 22, 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The pooled farmers hoped that the construction activity would start soon. But it did not. They say there are no indications of work starting. So they have started farming activity, cultivating millet and other crops and will remove the crop as and when construction activity starts.

The pro-Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) farmers who had offered their lands to the APCRDA for new capital establishment stopped cultivation in most villages of Amar-avati Capital Region. But the anti-LPS farmers are continuing cultivation for the past 22 months on nearly 3,000 acres in Undavalli, Penumaka and other areas with the help of court stay orders.

The meagre annuity of Rs 50,000 per acre to Jareebu (fertile) land and Rs 30,000 per acre to Metta (Metta) land per annum forced the pooled farmers into financial difficulties.

Further, the cultivation of three crops in fertile lands by anti-LPS farmers without any hurdles attracted the pro LPS farmers also towards restarting of cultivation.
K. Balaji Reddy, Sambaiah and Naresh Reddy of Penumaka said they had continued cultivation in their multi-crop fertile farmlands and are growing various types of crops with the help of court stay orders.

They said this attracted the pooled farmers including leaders and activists.
The relatives of Penumaka sarpanch K. Panakalu Reddy also started cultivation of black gram on nearly 16 acres of pooled land and other pooled farmers started cultivation of maize, coriander, drumsticks and other crops. They said cultivation has been restarted on at least 400 acres of pooled lands in Penumaka alone.

Pooled farmer D. Venkateswarlu said the farmers are facing financial difficulties as supporting four members of a family on a meagre '2,500 per month is not possible.

“The core capital construction appears impossible in the next one or two years. So we have restarted cultivation,” he said.

If Amaravati capital works begin, then they will stop cultivation. They wanted APCRDA and the government to not disturb their cultivation activity till the start of Amaravati construction works.