Telangana Government counters Opposition protest

Hyderabad: The TRS government has intensified its counterattack through farmers themselves and holding land acquisition registrations under Mallannasagar project in Medak district to deflate Opposition protests.

Farmers, under the banner of “Telangana Rythu Rakshana Samiti” on Wednesday condemned the Opposition for creating obstacles in the construction of Mallannasagar and other projects which they said will benefit a large number of people.

At a meeting held in Sangareddy, the headquarters of Medak district, they requested the government to provide packages under GO 123 or Land Acquisition Act, 2013 as per the choice of farmers besides 2BHK houses and other benefits.

“The Opposition should not blindly oppose irrigation projects which are the lifeline of farmers. I have four acres of land in Nalgonda but it’s of no use since there is no river or groundwater. Our rain-fed crops are unreliable. Let us back government efforts. But government should  provide adequate relief to farmers who lose their lands and farmers who benefit should also stand by them,” said Ram Reddy, a farmer from Nalgonda.

Farmers, backed by the TRS continue to hold rallies in different parts of the state in support of irrigation projects. In a bid to show public support, the government and TRS leaders are also convincing farmers to give up their land by promising them the best compensation.

In an interesting development, government organised a land purchase mela right in Yetigadda Kistapur village where had farmers launched a hunger strike against land acquisition and for whom the Opposition parties are staging protests. Of the 1,592 acres of patta land, registrations have been completed with regard to 1,030 acres, according to officials.

The government at present needs 12,709 acres for the Mallannasagar project, of which 7,596 acres have to be acquired from farmers, it is learnt. Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao claimed farmers of six of the eight villages that would be submerged have agreed to part with their lands.

“We require about 16,000 acres in all. We will provide compensation of their choice under GO 123 or Land Acquisition Act, 2013,” he said. Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Board Niranjan Reddy flayed the Opposition stance and advised it not to indulge in petty politics and stall development.