Farmers oppose land acquisition at Koheda, tension prevails

Tension prevailed at Koheda village in Rangareddy district after farmers opposed the government’s attempt to acquire land for a fruit market and government offices. Farmers prevented officials from entering the fields and demanded fair compensation while questioning cancellation of earlier land allotments

Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at Koheda village in Rangareddy district on Monday after farmers opposed the government’s move to acquire land for a proposed fruit market and government offices.

Local officials from the Revenue Department and Market Committee arrived at the village along with earthmovers to begin the process. However, farmers, including women, prevented them from entering the fields. In protest, an elderly woman lay in front of an earthmover to stop the officials from proceeding. Heated arguments broke out between the farmers and officials at the site.

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Despite attempts by officials to convince them, the farmers refused to allow the work to continue, forcing the authorities to leave the area.

According to reports, the government planned to acquire 179 acres in Survey No. 167/1 at Koheda village for establishing a fruit market and a Sub-Registrar office. Farmers claimed they had been cultivating the land for generations and pointed out that the matter was currently pending before a court. They demanded fair compensation and an additional allotment of 500 square yards of land for residential purposes.

The farmers also questioned the government’s decision to acquire the disputed land when 179 acres had already been allotted for the Batasingaram fruit market during the previous BRS regime in Survey Nos. 548 and 507. They argued that those lands were free from litigation. However, after the Congress government came to power, the allotment was reportedly cancelled and the land was handed over to TGIIC for setting up food processing units. The farmers questioned why the government could not utilise those lands instead of acquiring land at Koheda, reports said.