Peddapalli: Coca Cola unit faces public opposition with villagers not ready to give up land

The villagers, who had already surrendered a significant portion of their land to Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), fear losing their remaining agricultural land if it is allocated for the proposed industrial park. The project is part of the State government's initiative to establish industrial units in remote areas.

Peddapalli: Residents of Ratnapur are sticking to their stance that they would not to give up their lands for the proposed Industrial Park since they would not have land to cultivate crops if that was done.

The villagers, who had earlier given up a huge chunk of their land for Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), will not have agricultural lands to cultivate crops if the existing land was given for the industrial park, which is part of the State government’s plans to set up industrial units in remote areas as well. The park was proposed to come up near Ratnapur of Ramagiri mandal, 22 km from the district headquarters.

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The park was proposed to be developed in 203 acres of land located near the hillocks of the ancient Ramagiri Khila. American beverage major Coca Cola Company too was among those expected to to establish a unit in the proposed park. However, the government’s plans are in limbo after the local people announced their decision not to give up their lands.
Out of 203 acres, the government has only 38 acres and the remaining 165 acres belong to private persons and are mostly patta lands, prompting the government to go for large scale land acquisition. However, the local people, who recently gave land for a national highway as well, are unhappy with the attempt to take the remaining land as well from them.

According to villagers, without their notice, officials had conducted land surveys in their agricultural fields. They came to know about the industrial park when the list of land oustees was displayed in the gram panchayat along with the names and extent of land to be acquired in February. They then met IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu and informed him that they would not give their lands for the park. Responding positively to their request, the Minister had assured them to look for land in another location.

However, despite the Minister’s assurance, TGIIC Karimnagar General Manager Maheshwar, a Coca Cola Company representative and other officials reached the village for a location visit on March 18. The furious villagers prevented them from proceeding and protested against the park in front of their vehicles.
They alleged that the government was conspiring to take their lands without their permission. How could the government decide to acquire lands without getting their opinion by conducting grama sabhas, they asked.

Their anger is still simmering, with the governments next move yet to be revealed.