Nellore: Tension prevailed at Saluchintala area of Nellore on Thursday after police held Nellore City legislator Dr Puliboina Anil Kumar Yadav when he staged a protest for removing houses belonging to the poor without showing alternative site. The encroachments are being removed to facilitate the formation of Mumbai - Nellore highway. The YSR Congress legislator was demanding the authorities to take up the drive only after making alternative arrangements to the displaced and the issue is pending since last three years.
According to Dr Yadav, revenue officials along with police embarked on the drive before dawn on Thursday and removed more than hundred odd houses using earth moving machines. Taking serious view of the drive, the legislator rushed to the spot along with his followers and resorted to a protest on the highway. Nellore rural police rushed to the spot and detained the legislator and a party leader Deverakonda Ashok when they refused to comply with the police. Speaking to this correspondent, Dr Yadav said he was representing the issue since last three years and his request was to shift them after providing minimum infrastructure like power, water and roads but revenue officials ignored his appeals.
Though they have allotted land at Kondlapudi in Nellore rural mandal, it was in dispute and without any facilities. Moreover the locals are not allowing anyone to enter the site. Mr Yadav said the revenue officials were very casual about the difficulties being faced by the displaced while expressing shock over their attitude. He said the officials sought three days time to provide basic amenities at the new site and he will not keep quiet if they fail to fulfill the promise by January 2. He said the police has released him in the evening.
Meanwhile YSR Congress district convener and Sarveypalli legislator Kakani Govardhan Reddy and Nellore rural legislator Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy expressed solidarity with Dr Anil's stand and blamed the revenue officials for their utter disregard towards the poor people. “This government is against the poor and marginal communities,” Mr Sridhar Reddy pointed, in a press meet.
