TD leaders try to persuade farmers; Land pooling to start from November 1
GUNTUR: Telugu Desam leaders have started approaching farmers, urging them to give their lands for the new capital of Andhra Pradesh.
The state government has confirmed that the capital will be in Tulluru mandal on the banks of the Krishna River. In phase I, the land will be collected from farmers in 14 villages of Tulluru mandal and three villages of Mangalagiri mandal under the land pooling system.
Agriculture minister P. Pulla Rao, Vemuru MLA N. Anandababu and others interacted with farmers of Tulluru and Mangalagiri mandals in Guntur on Tuesday and tried to pacify them, explaining the future benefits of giving land for the new capital.
The farmers explained to the minister that majority of them were marginal and small farmers owning only 0.50 acre to 2.50 acres land and they would be left with nothing if their lands were taken for the new capital.
They added that if the government offers space in the commercial complexes and jobs to a member of each farmer’s family under a 50-50 ratio of land pooling with yearly compensations, they will give their lands.
Mr Pulla Rao said that the farmers would benefit from the new capital as the government would return developed land in a 40-60 ratio. He said that the TD government was working for the benefit of farmers and a detailed policy favouring farmers would be announced on October 30.
He added that the land pooling process would start from November 1. However, the farmers said that they would give their lands only if all their conditions are fulfilled.
Meanwhile YSRC plans to resist land panel’s visit to Mangalagiri
The revenue officials tried hard to explain to farmers the benefits they will get if they pool land for a new capital. Farmer K. Nageswara Rao said that they would lose their livelihoods by giving fertile lands, which were giving three crops a year.
Farmer B. Venkateswarlu said that they were ready to cooperate with the government if the AP government agreed to their demands. Mangalagiri MLA A. Ramakrishna Reddy assured the farmers that the YSR Congress would protect their lands and launch protests.
He added that they were going to stop the Cabinet sub-committee when it visited the Mangalagiri constituency. Meanwhile AP Rytu Sangham is going to conduct a meeting of farmers opposing the land pooling system on October 30.
