Anti-reservoir protest grows in Telangana

As of July 28, the government had acquired nearly 8,000 acres of the required 12,000 acres.

The K Chandrasekhara Rao government estimates that the project would result in submerging of 14 villages and hamlets spread over 12,000 acres, while agricultural land in seven villages would be partially affected.

Talks were on till July 24, when there was a clash between police and protesters. The protesters say police lathicharged a peaceful demonstration and left several of them badly injured.

The protest has drawn prominent names, including several who led the Telangana agitation. The 14 villages that are part of the hunger strike had also participated in the stir for Telangana. Among those detained so far are revolutionary poet and writer Vara Vara Rao, and Prof B Kodandaram, convenor of the Telangana Joint Action Committee.

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Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Shabbir Ali of the Congress says the project is ill-conceived, and lacks even a basic detailed project report.

When the reservoir was first proposed early this year, people in some villages like Laxmapur had agreed to shift elsewhere in return for adequate compensation. However, instead of opening a dialogue with the villagers, the government allegedly tried to armtwist them into giving their land under a GO (government order) 123 issued on July 30, 2015, and not provide proper compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. Under the Act, the Government has to pay three times the market value of the land; arrange for resettlement and rehabilitation of oustees; and provide compensation for loss of livelihood.

Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao says GO 123 is more beneficial for farmers. “The process of acquiring land and compensating the farmers is over within 15 days under GO 123. The government is offering Rs 7 lakh as compensation for an acre of land with a borewell in it, Rs 5.8 lakh per acre for land without borewell. We are offering house for house, school for school and temple for temple. The displaced families will get two-bedroom houses, which will be constructed by the state government. If farmers opt for the Land Acquisition Act, it is a long process of over six months… Besides, in these villages, the land value per acre is Rs 60,000, and thrice that value is only Rs 1.80 lakh. We are offering a far better compensation,” Rao said.

Vemulagatta villagers say the government is undervaluing their land. “The government purchased land here for Rs 4.5 lakh per acre to distribute to landless Dalit families. Now why is it valuing our land at Rs 60,000?” says Rajanarasimha Reddy, who calls himself a staunch supporter of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).

Prof B Kodandaram says the government has redesigned the reservoir by increasing its capacity without considering the impact on villagers.

As the government cuts them off from the rest of the state, the villagers say they are not sure who to believe.