ANANTAPUR: The district unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has welcomed the inking of an agreement by the State Government with a consortium of Singapore and Australian companies for setting up a science city in Obuladevara Cheruvu and Amadagur mandal in the district.

Talking to newspersons here on Friday G. Obulakonda Reddy said it would definitely be a boost to the economy of the backward area and could go a long way in the development of the district. The district, hit by drought conditions and farmers' suicides, would be immensely benefited with such projects.

He, however, expressed apprehensions over the transparency in the land acquisition and compensation for the displaced families.

The recent incidents related to allocation of lands to special economic zones (SEZs) had given rise to suspicion here too, he said. He suggested the compensation should be a comprehensive rehabilitation package.

Not only landowners, but also farm workers depending on the lands and the vocational workers would be displaced. So, the compensation package should benefit all these categories.

He urged the Government to issue R-card (rehabilitation) to all the displaced farmers for transparency in rehabilitation measures.

Compensation should also be given for assigned lands, non-patta lands being cultivated for long and those involved in farming on lands taken on lease.

The displaced categories should be given 1,000 days of livelihood by the project so that they could choose an alternative.

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