Vikarabad: Kadlapur farmers protest land acquisition for industrial park

Farmers of Kadlapur village in Vikarabad district protested against the proposed acquisition of 587 acres of fertile land for an industrial park. They alleged lack of prior notice, raised concerns over the SIA survey and warned of livelihood and environmental impact.

Hyderabad: Farmers of Kadlapur village in Vikarabad district are up in arms against acquisition of their fertile lands for establishment of industrial park in the region. Raising slogans against the Congress government, the farmers staged protest at District Collector’s office on Friday.

The farmers are charging that the government had issued land acquisition notification for over 587 acres in survey numbers of 136, 40, 110, 111 and others in the village. All these lands are assigned and patta lands.

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The farmers submitted a representation to the District Collector and Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO). In the representations, the farmers found fault with the government for issuing land acquisition notifications without any prior intimation or notice to them or even the Gram Panchayat Office.

The farmers are demanding that the government spare their fertile lands for establishing industrial park. They are suggesting the government to use government-owned barren lands for the purpose.

The farmers stated that they cultivate two to three crops annually in the lands. As per rules, acquisition of fertile lands was not permissible, they stressed.

“About 350 to 450 families are eking out their livelihood by cultivating these lands. After acquisition, all these families will be displaced. Similarly, the farm labourers will also lose their livelihood,” the farmers informed the Collector in the representation.

This apart, the farmers also raised apprehensions over the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) survey. In the representation submitted to the RDO, the farmers said the SIA survey was not conducted properly.

Furthermore, the proposed plans to establish industrial park in the region would cast an adverse impact on the local environment. Once the industries commence operations, all the fertile lands would turn barren, the underground water and water bodies in the area would get polluted, the farmers expressed concern.