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.

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

Stories in this Section

Farmers lock up HLC offices
Handri-Neeva: farmers favour increased compensation
Issue of ration cards in rural areas soon
Bail plea of accused persons in Paritala case rejected

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu