Villagers to move court against international airport

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, MARCH 17. "We do not want any airport. It is only for the rich. We can only watch the planes fly and never sit in it. What we demand is not to be displaced from the agriculture lands which came to us from our forefathers," cried Veeraiah, a farmer.

"We know nothing else other than farming. How can they displace us and destroy our livelihood without seeking our opinion," wondered Malla Reddy, another farmer from Shamshabad mandal.

These were some of the small farmers from the 10 villages in the area who are going to be displaced because of the proposed international airport coming up in an area of 5,000 acres. Even as the State Government has started to acquire land for the airport, the affected people are protesting against the project.

"Except for the land acquisition notification in the newspapers, the villagers are not aware of what the Government is planning to do in the site," said Prof.K. Purushottam Reddy, President, Citizens Against Pollution and Mr. Vara Prasad Rao, Secretary, Campaign for Housing and Tenurial Rights (CHATRI).

Presenting some of the affected villagers before newsmen here on Saturday, they said the Government had asked four villages to be vacated without even conducting a environment people's hearing as was mandatory for projects. A public interest litigation would be filed in the High Court against the Government order.

"No notice has been served on the individual property owners or house owners. And, no information has been forthcoming on the alternative land sites to be provided to the displaced persons," charged the villagers.

Explaining about the problems they have been beset with after the airport project was announced, the villagers said all developmental activity by the Government departments had come to a halt. "Nobody is willing to come forward to lend us any money because of the uncertainty surrounding our lands," they complained.

"The Government should first identify an alternative site for the villagers to be affected before displacing them. And, who is going to take care of the landless rural poor," asked Prof. Reddy and Mr. Rao.

They also questioned the need for acquiring land for the international airport and causing misery to thousands of displaced people when two defence air strips, one at Hakimpet and another at Dindigul were available and could be developed into international airports.

The airport can be taken up only after an environment public hearing is conducted and a proper rehabilitation package for the affected people is worked out, they added.

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Section  : Southern States
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