Andhra Pradesh - Nalgonda   

Minister to help project evacuees get compensation

Staff Reporter

Unfair to keep issue pending for long, says Jaipal Reddy

NALGONDA: Union Minister S.Jaipal Reddy has assured that he will try his best to impress on the State Government the need to pay compensation to all the evacuees of Pulichintala project by April 30.

Participating in a review meeting organised by the district administration here on Sunday, he said that compensation had not been paid due to "unavoidable procedural delay." He told the officials that ryots would demand an increase in the amount of compensation if the Government kept the issue pending.

Recalling his outbursts against the State Government's delay in paying the compensation at a meeting attended by the Chief Minister at Nagarjunasagar last month, the Union Minister said: "They had promised me of paying compensation within six months. But the time has lapsed. I ask them to pay it immediately since it is unfair to prolong the issue."

He further asked the officials to be liberal in classifying the lands to be submerged due to the construction of the project. The Kodad MLA, N.Uttamkumar Reddy, also asked for the early payment of compensation.

Reacting to a point raised by the MLA on the non-inclusion of local labourers in the project construction, the Union Minister and Home Minister K.Jana Reddy made it clear that the contractor must accommodate the locals. "Tell him to accord priority to the local labourers. It is his moral duty," Mr.Jana Reddy said curtly.

Mr. Uttamkumar Reddy demanded that the headquarters of Pulichintala project be shifted to Mallareddygudem in Nalgonda side. The villagers, who were given a chance to address the meeting, asked the Ministers to ensure a fair deal for the evacuees.

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