The Hindu : Officials incur villagers' wrath

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 10, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Officials incur villagers' wrath

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI Jan. 9. Officials of the Revenue and the R&B departments came in for criticism at the Janmabhoomi programme on Wednesday at Mungilipattu, 25 km from here. The villagers expressed their ire at the officials for their alleged callousness over inadequate compensation paid for the land acquired from them.

Even Som Dutt Builders Limited (SDBL), executing the State Highway-5 between Puthalapattu and Naidupet, had to incur the public wrath. In all, two and a half acres of land was acquired from eight farmers of the village.

Chiranjeevulu, an elementary school teacher, said in his representation said that against the market value of Rs. 4 lakhs, a compensation of Rs.45,000 was paid to him for the land, and Rs.24,000 towards the standing sugarcane crop, open well and banana trees. He submitted memoranda to officials and ministers of R&B and revenue wings, but to no avail.

The villagers said they handed over their land to the Government feeling that the highway would bring fortune to their village, but were disenchanted with the ill-treatment. They said they were not provided any document on the details of the amount paid to them, nor were their plea for a re-survey taken note of.

Also, a bridge coming up near the village became the bone of contention for a further tiff with officials. The villagers rued that the bridge coming up across the Swarnamukhi river at an altitude of 23 ft, to which the approach roads were being heightened with a high gradient, would make it tough for their bullock-carts and tractors cross the road. The villagers alleged that another culvert was built, that forced a diversion of the stream from its normal course of flow into their fields.

However, they could not attract a concrete assurance from officials.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Cong. men clash at Karimnagar meet

Five Ayyappa devotees killed in mishap

Rs. 1 cr. to be spent on kitchens in 400 schools

`Velugu' a boon for the poor, says Minister

V.C. Reddipalle still in the grip of fear

All-party rally today for Godavari waters

Good response to gram sabhas: Minister

Eye operation theatre reopened

Officials incur villagers' wrath

Janashakti naxal held

CM's gesture sparks donation spree