The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Thotapalli-displaced threaten to intensify stir

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Thursday, Dec 18, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Thotapalli-displaced threaten to intensify stir

Correspondent

Compensation for houses yet to be paid, say oustees

Displaced families stage dharna at Collector’s Office
R&R package not fully implemented in some villages

VIZIANAGARAM: Families displaced by Thotapalli reservoir project have threatened to stall construction work once again as the administration failed to fulfil demands within one month. When the families stalled works for over a week last month, Joint Collector P. Lakshmi Narasimham held talks with the CPI (M) leaders and displaced families on November 19 and agreed to concede their 34 demands by December 15.

The displaced families on Wednesday staged a dharna at the Collector’s Office demanding R & R package to the left over families. M. Krishna Murty and S. Punyavathi, CPI (M) district secretary and State committee leader respectively, K. Lakshmana Murty, MLA, Bantu Dasu, state vice-president of Project Nirvasithula Sangam, participated in the dharna.

Mr. Krishna Murty said compensation was yet to be paid for houses of oustees at P.R.N. Valasa, Duggi, Pata Kallikota, Basangi and Gunanapuram villages.

Following recommendation of the then Collector B. Kishore the government had issued a GO declaring Nandivanivalasa and Gadabavalasa as project-affected villages. But, in the absence of a gazette notification even after six months the administration had not taken up rehabilitation till date, he added. That apart, he said as part of the R & R, the government promised Rs. 3,200 per family under NREGP for construction of basement but it was not implemented. He alleged that the district administration, under political pressure, was showing discrimination in payment of compensation for houses. Following closure of two rice mills at Mettupaka 30 hamalis had lost their livelihood and they were not included in the R & R package, he added. At P.N.R. Valasa, out of 46 widows and widowers eligible for R & R package, only 23 were considered for package for unknown reasons, the CPI (M) leader said and demanded that the officials follow the same yardstick while enlisting beneficiaries.

With regard to Peddagedda, he said though the government officially declared it completed two years ago R & R package was not fully implemented. The demand for a road between Yeguva Kummarivalasa and Bangaruguddi remained unfulfilled. As a result, the villagers have to trek about 15km to reach the mainland.

Mr. Lakshmana Murty called upon displaced families to unite and intensify agitation till their demands were fully met.

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