SRIRAMPUR (MANCHERIAL): CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka on Sunday said that power generation and coal mines should be in the hands of the people and government sector so that wealth can be generated and employment could be created for the benefit of the locals instead of handing them over to capitalists or private companies.
He said that local resources like water and coal can be tapped to create employment, unlike private companies, which can exploit the resources and siphon off them for their benefit.
Bhatti said that when the Congress party comes to power in the state, they bring the power and coal mine sector under Singareni Collieries (SCCL) and there would be zero scopes for privatization of the latter. He said power generation and distribution will also be brought under the purview of the government sector.
He was speaking after visiting Ramaraopet, Thallapet and Guttaraipalli villages that were affected because of the Srirampur opencast mine. He interacted with the affected people during his padayatra.
Narrating their woes they told Bhatti and DCC president Kokkirala Surekha, who accompanied him, that they did not get compensation for their lands and houses despite being forced out of their villages.
Bhatti pointed out to women that it was the Congress government that had provided them LPG cylinders for a mere Rs 450, which the BJP government at the Centre has enhanced to Rs1,200.
He said farmers were suffering a lot because of the erratic power supply for agriculture.
His padayatra, which began in Dubbapally village in Jaipur mandal, passed through various opencast mine-affected villages and reached Pragathi stadium in Srirampur in the Mancherial district.
Kisan Congress state president Anwesh Reddy and padayatra convenor Babu, former MLC Potla Nageshwar Rao and Asifabad DCC president Vishwaprasad were present.
