Polavaram project oustees in sorry state; Residences 70-km away from fields

Vijayawada: The Polavaram Project, which is considered to be the lifeline of Andhra Pradesh and the biggest irrigation project in India, has a dark side. The lives of those displaced are in a sorry state, with rehabilitated villages not even having graveyard in which to bury their dead. The authorities have filed a case against a youth who tried to bury the body of his mother at the Polavaram Revenue Office, as a mark of protest.

Sources said that following the death of Konuthula Ramulu of Devaragondi, her family took the body to the land allotted by the government as a graveyard, to conduct the final rites. The land owner refused to permit the burial, stating that he had not been paid any compensation by the government. Angered by this, the family took the body to the Polavaram Mandal Revenue Office and tried to bury it there. Officials were forced to intervene, and the police booked the son and bound him over.

This case only scratches the surface of the problems faced by those being rehabilitated. The 22 villages that will be displaced during Phase II of the project are displeased at the fact that the residences allotted by the state government are 70 km away from the agricultural fields. They question how they are expected to travel to the farms daily. Several villagers haven’t even been shown their lands yet.

A similar situation prevails in Singannapalli, where 37 fishing families have been allotted homes 7 km away from the Godavari. They are unable to carry their boats with them and are hence forced to leave them at the river, which causes them much worry.