Pro-LPS farmers threaten to take back pooled lands in capital region
Minister for municipal administration P. Narayana addresses the farmers on Grama Kantam land issue at Krishnayapalem village in the capital region on Tuesday. (Photo: DC)
GUNTUR: The revolution of pro-LPS farmers has forced the government to change Grama Kantham norms. The threatening by pro-LPS farmers about getting back pooled lands if the APCRDA continues to collect Grama Kantham lands has forced the government to slightly cha-nge the norms of Grama Kanthams in the favour of the locals.
APCRDA vice-chairman and minister for municipal administration P. Narayana said that after taking the fears of the locals into consideration, a few changes were made to grama kantham rules and it is favourable to the landowners/farmers of the 29 villages of the capital region.
The landowners/farmers of the Krishna-yapalem, Neerukonda and other villages said that they have pooled their lands to the CRDA under LPS but CRDA is adamant to collect common lands, cattle sheds, meeting place and others which come under grama kanthams. They alleged that ministers P. Narayana, P. Pulla Rao and CRDA officials earlier assured not to touch grama kantham lands but in vain.
They lamented that villagers have left some lands like common cattle shed, fodder godown, meeting place and others but the CRDA is trying to take these lands. They rued that further some villagers have left lands without any construction on the border of the village and these lands also on peril due to eyeing of CRDA on these lands. They threatened that they will demand return of their pooled lands if CRDA and the government continue to harass them.
The farmers staged protests in front of the CRDA competent authority offices in 29 villages of capital region and further locked Dondapadu CRDA office. Telugu Desam MLA of Tadikonda T. Sravan Kumar also complained about collection of grama kantham lands. This increased pressure forced the government to change the norms.
Mr Narayana said that all the residential areas and extended colonies of the villages up to December 8, 2014, all partially constructed or vacant lands which earlier got permissions from VGTMUDA, registered house lands up to 500 square yards which got permission from local village panchayats, tobacco barns and godowns would come under grama kanthams.
He clarified that lands which were put vacant for agriculture activity would be collected and schools, devotional places, graveyards and other social community buildings out of the village would be shifted to other areas according to the master plan.
Pro-LPS farmers stop minister:
The pro LPS farmers of Krishnayapalem on Tuesday night protested in front of APCRDA vice-chairman and minister for municipal administration, P. Narayana, seeking to resolve the grama kantham issues.
Mr Narayana came to Krishnayapalem village on Tuesday night to resolve disputed 8 acres of land of the village. Nearly 50 farmers of the village gheraoed the minister and questioned about the intention of the government about collecting Grama Kantham lands. They alleged that they cooperated with the government by pooling their lands but the CRDA was haunting them for Grama Kantham lands, which is very sad.
Mr Narayana immediately went to the disputed Grama Kantham lands and inspected the village land records. He settled the disputed one acre land by excluding it from land acquisition/pooling. The angry farmers became happy and joined the meeting with the minister on Grama Kantham disputes.
Mr Narayana directed Guntur district joint collector Ch. Sridhar to resolve issues of Grama Kanthams by August 29 in all villages of the capital region. He added that already Grama Kantham issues in Neerukonda, Nelapadu and Krishnayapalem were resolved. Mr Sridhar and CRDA officials participated in the programme.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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