Better compensation and plots to woo farmers of Andhra Pradesh for land pooling

Hyderabad: With farmers in no mood to surrender their land for capital, and Opposition parties are demanding a fair deal, the AP government is likely to increase the yearly remuneration offer from Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000 per acre or even more.

The government is also considering offering farmers developed plots with permission to construct high-rise commercial buildings on either side of the road.

The Cabinet sub-committee on the capital city will take a decision shortly on these and several other proposals aimed at encouraging the farmers to pool their lands for the capital.

The proposals are likely to be placed before the next Cabinet meeting for final approval.

Sources close to the Cabinet sub-committee on land pooling said though the state government was aware that it would not be easy to procure land, the land pooling was turning out to be more difficult than anticipated.

Capital panel to visit region from tomorrow

Agriculture minister P. Pulla Rao on Thursday has said that the Cabinet sub-committee on the new capital would begin its visit of the capital region from November 8 to interact with farmers of the villages falling under the proposed capital region area.

Mr Rao alleged that the Opposition was misguiding farmers against land pooling and refuted all allegations as politically motivated. He said the panel would collect the farmers’ opinions and submit a report to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Black badges worn during Janmabhoomi programme

Agitations against land pooling for the proposed capital region continued on Thursday with farmers of Uddandarayunipalem village of Tulluru mandal wearing black badges during the Janmabhoomi programme as a sign of protest. Farmers criticised the meagre yearly compensation being offered. They declared they would not give up any land under any circumstances for land pooling.