HYDERABAD: Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah has offered to solve any problem cited by the displaced families of Polavaram project regarding their rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R), saying that the Government is always ready to satisfy them.

The Minister on Tuesday described as `unfortunate,' the police firing in Bhadrachalam in which four persons were wounded. At the same time, he condemned CPI(M) leaders' action in attacking Government offices while protesting against the construction of Polavaram when village after village in Khammam district appreciated the R&R package and wanted the project expedited.

Report sought

At a press conference here, he said the Government had called for a report on the incident to decide whether it required a judicial probe as sought by Opposition parties and allow ex gratia for injured persons.

He said the Government had offered Rs. 3,486-crore R&R package to the displaced. Execution of the project was put on hold though the Empowered Committee did not issue any such direction.

Under the package, every below poverty line tribal family losing land would get Rs.1,43,360 apart from regular land compensation, Rs. 10,000 to develop land elsewhere, a 200-square yard house site and Rs. 5,000 for agriculture produce foregone.

Wish to migrate

Mr. Lakshmaiah said those living in the areas abutting the Godavari wanted to migrate to higher areas for safety after the 2006 floods and when house sites were offered at such places under the package, they readily accepted it, treating it as a golden opportunity.

But, CPI(M) leaders were preventing this process for their own political ends, he alleged.

Villagers, in fact, had chased away CPI(M) workers when they obstructed household surveys in several villages. Kunja Narsaiah who received a bullet wound in the firing belonged to Madhavaraopet, a village that would not be submerged.

Appealing to the CPI(M) leaders not to incite people, he recalled that Polavaram project was sought by veteran leader Putchalapalli Sundarayya.

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