Adilabad farmers anxious over acquisition of land for proposed airport

Farmers in Adilabad are worried about land acquisition for a proposed airport, fearing loss of livelihood. While the project has been welcomed, uncertainty over compensation, timing, and process has left small and tenant farmers anxious ahead of the cropping season

Adilabad: Farmers are anxious over the acquisition of land for the proposed airport to be set up in Adilabad district.

Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu on Wednesday said that an airport for defence would be built in Adilabad, which would have an enclave for civil operations as well. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, during his recent visit to the district, had already announced that an airport would be built in Adilabad town soon.

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People expressed happiness over the creation of the facility. However, farmers living in villages around Adilabad town are worried about land acquisition for the proposed airport, particularly over the timing of the process. They fear that their source of livelihood would be affected.

Small and tenant farmers from Khanapur and adjacent villages are in a dilemma over whether to raise crops in the ensuing Vanakalam season. They urged officials to provide clarity on the process of land acquisition and requested them to disclose when it would commence. They said they would lose their livelihood if agricultural lands were acquired.

In March, the aggrieved farmers staged a sit-in in front of the Collectorate, demanding that the government clarify the land acquisition process. They sought compensation of Rs 2 crore per acre to be acquired by the government.

The farmers said that no one was coming forward to buy their lands following the announcement of the project. They urged the government to declare details of land acquisition so that they could live without tension. They added that a majority of them were cultivating crops on leased lands.

Officials said that around 450 acres are likely to be acquired, as the existing defence airstrip has 360 acres of land.