KHAMMAM: Panchayat raj officials are said to be facing difficulty in finding government lands for developing nurseries under Haritha Haram, a flagship programme of the state government.
Identification of lands in over 10 mandals became a herculean task for the officials as lands are not available in 121 habitations in these mandals including Raghunathapalem, Khammam Rural, Bonakal, Mudigonda, Kusumanchi, Nelakondapalli, Wyra, Tallada, Sattupalli and Kallur.
There are government lands in every village and the extent of the land varies from 50 acres to 200 acres. These lands are being allocated to various schemes including Indiramma housing, schools, social welfare hostels, panchayat offices, assigned lands to poor Dalits and tribes, water tanks, primary health centres, house sites to weaker section, vaikuntadhamams, dumping yards, Rythu Vedikas and community halls. The panchayat raj officials say they are even unable to get government lands for dumping yards in 30 villages.
As per the details, the extent of vacant government lands came to zero in 27 villages and it is below five acres in 82 villages. The government has to acquire lands, even for 2BHK housing or other schemes in these villages. The government acquired thousands of acres for highway and irrigation projects.
There is a lot of resistance from farmers on land acquisition often. The revenue officials are facing tough times convincing the protesting farmers.
Raghunathapalem mandal is witnessing the same problem and the officials are unable to identify government land for nurseries. Lands are not available for the purpose in 23 gram panchayats in Raghunadhapalem mandal. As per a GO, the officials should find one fourth of an acre of land to raise a nursery in each panchayat.
Keeping the issue in view, the officials are readying nurseries in the Sikham lands of local tanks, in which water flows only on rare occasions.
