Date:16/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/10/16/stories/2004101611110400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Ryots vent ire against Pulichintala

By Our Staff Reporter

NALGONDA, OCT. 15. Hundreds of farmers from Mellacheruvu mandal in Nalgonda district set ablaze four huts belonging to contractors on Friday, protesting against the construction of the Pulichintala project. They also pelted stones on machines to be used for the construction.

Reports said potential evacuees from Vellatur, Nemalipuri, Chintiryala, Atlur, Recherla, Sobhandripuram and Dondapadu thronged the project site at Vajinepally in the morning. Led by the former MLA, V. Chander Rao of the Telugu Desam, they raised slogans against the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who was laying the foundation stone for the project on the other side of the river Krishna in Guntur district.

The farmers set on fire huts being used as work sheds by contractors and tried to destroy their vehicles. Timely intervention by the police saved the situation; local police sent away 15 tippers from the scene and dispersed the agitators.The farmers alleged that the Government had not consulted them before grounding the works and that they had been kept in the dark about the compensation.