The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Maoist threat looms large on non-tribal farmers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 10, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Maoist threat looms large on non-tribal farmers

D. Chandra Bhaskar Rao

Farmers fear incurring the ire of naxalites who are on the rampage in the neighbouring Chhattisgarh

BHADRACHALAM: The threat of Maoists looms large on non-tribal farmers giving land to the Government for the implementation of the “Land for land compensation” under the special rehabilitation package for the Polavaram oustees.

A majority of them are keen on disposing of the lands which are otherwise not saleable. But they are not able to give their names openly. They are apprehensive of incurring the ire of the left wing extremist group which is out on the rampage in the neighbouring pockets of South Bastar in Chhattisgarh.

The district administration has sought to acquire some 5,000 acres of land from the non-tribal farmers under the Taliperu medium irrigation project – mainly in Charla and Dummugudem revenue mandals. Some 1,000 acres of land was already identified in Charla mandal for the purpose.

The revenue authorities could so far identify about 1,500 acres in Dumugudem mandal as part of the exercise which was still in progress.

Poor sale value

The lands on the banks of the Godavari are quite fertile and enjoying good irrigation facilities. But they have the least sale value. Farmers willing to dispose of the lands should effect the transaction in favour of a tribal buyer, thanks to scheduled area Regulation of 1/70. But for the first time, the Government had come forward to acquire the land for a price. It had offered Rs 1.45 lakh per acre in case of irrigated land.

The land under the minor irrigation schemes and lifts would fetch Rs 1.30 lakh per acre. Any price is welcome for the non-tribal families which are bent upon leaving the scheduled area villages because of the slow pace of development, problem of recurring floods and naxalite menace. But they are not in a position to approach the revenue authorities to register their names because of the Maoist sponsored anti-Polavaram campaign. A political leader, Anjaneya Varma, from Satyanarayanapuram village in Charla mandal, who gave land to the administration for construction of a model housing colony as part of the rehabilitation package, was gunned down by the Maoists in June last year. The incident served as a deterrent for the farmers cooperating with the revenue authorities so far.

A farmer who spoke on condition of anonymity said all the non-tribal farmers are evincing interest in the offer. But no one will go on their own offering their lands.

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