Date:07/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/07/stories/2006010707580500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Handri-Neeva: farmers favour increased compensation

Staff Reporter

Dharna staged by ryots

ANANTAPUR: Farmers from Uravakonda, Vajrakarur and Guntakal areas, who are being ousted from their agricultural fields for the purpose of Handri-Neeva project works, staged a dharna in front of the Collectorate here on Friday under the aegis of Handri-Neeva Oustees Association, demanding higher compensation.

Led by the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham leaders, the farmers welcomed the commencement of works on the project, which would irrigate 3.5 lakhs acres in the district and provide drinking water to hundreds of villages, and urged the Government to speed up the works to complete the project early. They also urged the Government to ensure judicious compensation for their lands.

Explaining that they were already debt-trapped due to continuous crop failure as a result of drought conditions year after year they should be paid a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh per acre for dry land and Rs. 2 lakhs per acre for land under tanks, open wells and borewells. Government employment should also be provided to one person of every family, which was going to lose its land for Handri-Neeva.

They suggested the Government to talk to their association before deciding on the compensation. The Government should also pay compensation for the remaining land of the farmers after acquisition of land required for the project, if it would be less than an acre, as it would not be possible to cultivate such a small extent.