Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Proposal for firing range in Anantapur opposed

ANANTAPUR: Three civil rights bodies have opposed the government’s plans to set up a firing range in about 15,000 acres area in Kanaganapalli and Kambaduru mandals in the district alleging that such efforts will deny the right of living to the people in villages in the area already identified for the purpose.

A team comprising activists of Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee (APCLC), Human Rights Forum (HRF) and Organisation for Protection of Democratic Rights (OPDR) visited a few villages identified by the Revenue Department for the purpose a couple of days back and elicited the views of people, farmers in particular.

Giving details of their fact-finding mission about the firing range, K. Vijaykumar and K. Nageswarachary of APCLC, S.M. Basha and A. Chandrasekhar of HRF, M. Srinivasulu and Suresh of OPDR stated here on Thursday that the Revenue Department had already completed survey in a few villages and was preparing to issue notices for land acquisition.

The revenue officials had been claiming that the government had all the rights to resume lands assigned to the poor anytime as per law for the larger interests of the people.

Further, the assigned landholders were also being threatened that they would not get compensation if they refused to give away the land, the rights activists alleged. Larger people’s interest meant taking over lands for the purpose of irrigation systems, roads, drinking water needs and transport needs, they felt.

“It is difficult to understand how a firing range displacing thousands of people could be termed as larger people’s interest.”

They also termed the Dharmvaram RDO’s reported statement that the lands would be snatched if the people refused to cooperate as irresponsible of a public servant.

A few villages would be completely displaced by the proposed firing range but the officials had been telling people that they could stay put in as there would be no firing activity in about one km radius of their villages.

Besides, they would also be informed about the schedule of firing practice in advance and would be compensated for remaining indoors during the period, the rights leaders said.

They stated that Maddelacheruvu Thanda, Nuthimadugu Thanda and Karthanapalli villages would be completely displaced.

They demanded that the government explain in what way the firing range would help the people and how the money would compensate the displacement of settled lives.

It was amounting to violation of basic human rights and fundamental rights, the civil rights activists added.

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