HC relief to oustees under Kondapochamma project.

Farmers whose lands are set to go under the proposed Kondapochamma Reservoir who approached the High Court seeking justice got relief recently.

According to sources, the High Court directed the government to ensure that there was no coercion and the agreements should be only voluntary and the government should follow the due process of law of LA Act - 2013 and compulsory land acquisition.

The judgement was delivered based on a case filed by some farmers from Thanedarpally in Mulugu mandal, one of the villages that would be submerged under the proposed reservoir.

“This gives us protection from the forcible acquisition by the government under LA Act- 2016 (Telangana amendment). We hope that we will get justice,” said one of the land oustees Mallampally Chandram, a resident of Bailampur, another village facing submergence in the proposed reservoir.

“Selling land under the LA Act- 2016 is nothing but an agreement of sale. The farmer have to sign an agreement in which he/she states that he/she is voluntarily selling land to the government for the offer price and would not approach any legal means demanding hike in compensation. How far it is justified?” asked Mr. Chandram

“The Government has offered us ₹12 lakh per acre whereas the going rate for land in neighbouring Gauraram is about ₹30,000 per square yard. Even if we want to buy 100 square yards for building a house we have to shell down ₹ 30 lakh. How can we sell our land for such a low price?” asked T. Srinivas from Mamidyal village.

The government has proposed to construct Kondapochamma reservoir in Gajwel constituency, represented by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

At a recent interaction the Chief Minister offered them lunch and talked to them personally following which many farmers came forward to sell the land to the government under Land Acquisition Act – 2016 (Telangana Amendment), which got the Presidential Assent in the beginning of the year.

Mr. Chandram pointed out that the government was not willing to give an assurance in writing to construct houses to the displaced persons.

“If the same party does not return to power who can we approach to enforce the promise of a double bedroom house? Why is the government not giving a written assurance to land oustees?” he asked. The farmers were only asking for a proper compensation so that they can settle properly even after displacement.

THE HINDU