Krishnagiri: Farmers of Bairamangalam, Akondapalli, M. Agraharam, Karukondapalli and Sanamau panchayats have opposed the Government move to establish a special economic zone (SEZ) near Hosur.
In a petition submitted to the district officials, the farmers alleged that the Government had identified 3,230 acres of land for setting up the SEZ. Lands for the project have been identified in four panchayats including Bairamangalam, Sanamau, Akondapalli and Kundamaranapalli.
They urged the Government not to take over the land as more than 5,000 families were dependent on it for their livelihood. The Government move has led to a sudden increase in prices of land in the neighbouring panchayats. Land prices have touched an all-time high of Rs. 50 lakh per acre, Satyanarayana Reddy, a farmer said.
In addition, the land being highly fertile was suitable for cultivation of vegetables and other crops, which were sent throughout the State and to neighbouring Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The Department of Agriculture in Krishnagiri had already certified the land as fertile.
About 450 electricity connections had been availed by farmers of these villages.
Instead of taking possession of agricultural land, the Government can acquire 7,500 acres of porombok land located nearby for the proposed SEZ. The Government should set up the SEZ in an alternative place for the benefit of small and marginal farmers, they claimed.
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