Pharma city: Mucherla farmers to get notice

While the farmers are demanding Rs 15 lakh an acre, the government has offered Rs 7.50 lakh. Officials claim that the land rate has fallen to Rs 15.5 lakh per acre in the last year and it would be beneficial for farmers to agree to Rs 7.50 lakh per acre.

The farmers, meanwhile, are preparing to launch an agitation against forcible land acquisition.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has planned the Pharma City in Mucherla to house bulk drug manufacturing units and a Pharma University on 11,000 acres. In the first phase, 2,000 acres will be acquired.

Ranga Reddy joint collector Rajat Kumar Saini held a meeting with farmers at the Kandukuru tahsildar’s office to discuss acquiring 381 acres in Survey No. 288. Revenue divisional officer Yadagiri Reddy and industries zonal officer Shyam Kumar were also present.

The officials held talks with two groups of farmers and tried to convince them to take Rs 7.5 lakh an acre. The officials told the farmers that their villages would develop like Hyderabad once the Pharma City came up, besides promising jobs for their families in the pharma units.

The farmers said that they were not against the Pharma City, but wanted a compensation of Rs 15 lakh per acre.

Mr Saini made a final offer of Rs 8.50 lakh per acre, provided all farmers arrived at a consensus as soon as possible and approached the government.

“Keeping the concerns of the farmers in mind, the industries department has agreed to buy at Rs 8.50 lakh per acre. This is the maximum one can expect for these lands. If farmers agree, we will buy directly from them. Or else, there will be no other option but to invoke the Land Acquisition Act,” Mr Saini said.