The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Polavaram: ryots start relay hunger strike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 08, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Polavaram: ryots start relay hunger strike

By Our Staff Reporter

KHAMMAM, DEC. 7. Farmers of the villages facing threat of submergence by the proposed Polavaram project started relay hunger strike under the aegis of the CPI district committee in Bhadrachalam today. Voicing concern over the impact of the project on the environment, they wanted the Government to lower the height of the dam to minimise displacement.

The residents of Gouridevipeta, Gannavaram and Nandigama villages took part in the protest. Inaugurating the protest, the CPI district secretary, Sidhi Venkateswalu said the Bhadrachalam division in Khammam district would bear the brunt of the project. Over one-lakh acres would be submerged in the division. He said the CPI was not against irrigation projects, but the Government should prioritise them.

Mr. Venkateswalu said the Government should start construction of Dummugudem project before Polavaram. Dummugudem project would not only benefit the farmers in Khammam but would help those under the Nagarjunasagar project as well.

He said the Government should take into consideration the impact of Polavaram project on environmentHe demanded that the Telangana farmers be given a fair deal. Irrigation facilities were the immediate priority.

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