Telangana Chief Minister’s pet project faces stiff opposition from farmers in Narayanpet
Farmers in Narayanpet staged protests with their families, demanding fair compensation for land being acquired for the Narayanpet-Kodangal lift irrigation project. They are seeking implementation of the Land Acquisition Act, proper valuation, and a government job per affected family.
Narayanpt: Farmers affected by the Narayanpet-Kodangal lift irrigation project, a pet initiative of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, staged a symbolic protest in front of their houses on Monday, accompanied by their families.
Holding placards, farmers from Utkoor and nearby villages in Makthal constituency demanded that Animal Husbandry Minister V Srihari, who represents the constituency, raise their concerns with the State government.
They are demanding the formation of a commission to finalise land compensation rates, implementation of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and a government job for each displaced family.
The farmers alleged that officials were offering Rs.14 lakh per acre as compensation, whereas the market value ranged between Rs.50 lakh and Rs.70 lakh per acre. They also accused police and revenue officials of preventing cultivation and forcibly acquiring their land.
Many of the affected are small and marginal farmers owning just one or two acres. They expressed fears of losing their sole source of livelihood without receiving adequate compensation.
Angered by what they described as unilateral land acquisition without payment, the farmers said they would continue their agitation until their demands were addressed. They urged the Minister to intervene and stand by them.
