Telangana Congress to return land to project-hit

Hyderabad: Several Telangana Congress leaders slammed the state government’s decision to go ahead with land acquisition for the controversial Mallannasagar in Medak district without implementing the Centre’s 2013 land acquisition Act. They said they would go to any extent to ensure that farmers’ interests are safeguarded.

Former Union minister S. Jaipal Reddy said the Congress on its return to power would return the land acquired unilaterally or implement the Centre’s 2013 Act. He alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was running a one-man show and there was no trace of democracy in the state due to this.

Participating in a dharna at Indira Park organised by former minister Marri Shashidhar Reddy as to express solidarity with the 100-day protest of the oustees of Mallannasagar, state Congress president Uttam Kumar Reddy said there was no necessity to have  50-TMC ft storage at Mallannasagar.

“The Chief Minister in the name of redesigning the project had increased the cost by Rs 50,000 crore for the Kaleswaram project instead of sticking to the Pranahita-Chevella scheme envisaged by the previous Cong-ress government,” Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

Mr Shabbir Ali, leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, said the government had acquired fertile land for taking up unnecessary projects like Mallannasagar.  He said Vemulaghat and other areas, which face submergence, had given good yields in last year’s Rabi and Kharif.

He said the government was more keen on acquiring land than about farmers’ welfare. Mr Shabbir Ali condemned the state government for imposing Section 144 and Section 30 (A) in the villages facing submergence by Mallannasagar for the last 50 days. He alleged that Mr Chandrasekhar Rao was keeping the farmers hostage in their own villages.