Kakinada: Fearing vehement protests from the farmers and the people of Seethanagaram mandal against the Purushothapatnam Lift Irrigation Scheme, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone for the construction of the scheme at Pithapuram instead of Purushothapatnam of East Godavari on Thursday.
The local farmers believe their valuable lands would be lost for the project which is not necessary as the Polavaram Project is constructed. All sections of farmers including TD are opposing the project and demand that if the project is necessary for irrigation needs of upland areas, the compensation should be given to them on the lines of Pattiseema farmers.
According to sources, by the time of land acquisition in Pattiseema project, some of the farmers approached the court for changing of its alignment. Meanwhile, the state government has compromised with the farmers and increased the compensation more than Rs 33 lakhs per acre.
There are also allegations that only some section of farmers has been benefitted.
The Purushothapatnam farmers are also seeking compensation more than Pattiseema compensation. Meanwhile, the farmers waited for Mr Naidu’s announcement for their compensation.
But, Mr Naidu did not mention the compensation issue and entrusted the responsibility of acquiring the lands to local MLA Pendurthi Venkatesh.
He asked Mr Venkatesh to solve all the land acquisition problems without raising any disturbances for project.
He also asked Mr Venkatesh to say a few words on the project. Mr Venkatesh said that the people of constituency are making a great sacrifice for the sake of all the projects on Godavari and therefore the government should take up development works in Rajanagaram constituency.
However, the people in Seethanagaram mandal who are losing their lands are in deep disappointment as Mr Naidu did not mention for the compensation and RR package issues.
Meanwhile, the Association of Indian Lawyers executive member Mr.I.Suryanarayana said in a statement that the land acquisition process, taking up by the officials is against the constitution. He said that the officials should first issue notice with a period of two months and explain the object of the land acquisition.
AP CM announces four lakh new pensions
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that they are holding fourth round of Janmabhoomi programme with emphasis on helping every household get economic development and enhance the standards of living of the family members in the state.
Taking part in grama sabha as part of Janmabhoomi-Maa Vooru programme at Ramachandrapuram in East Godavari on Thursday, the CM announced sanctioning of four lakh new social welfare pensions in addition to the existing 43 lakh pensions in the state by saying that the move would help purchasing power and self-confidence of the beneficiaries.
The CM vowed to develop Ramachandrapuram as a model town and assured to provide video-conference facility to about 12,500 households in order to interact with them and learn about their problems to redress them.
Maintaining that there is a vast potential for development of tourism in East Godavari, the CM said that the 47 km road connecting Jonnada to Yanam covering four Assembly segments would be expanded to 40 ft road. Mr Naidu assured sanction of Rs 16 crore under SC and ST Sub Plan to protect Serilanka village from soil erosion due to Godavari river.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated revenue divisional office built at a cost of Rs two crores, Stree Shakthi Bhavan built at a cost of Rs 36 lakhs, Coringa Canal-Y.D. Road built at a cost of 2.30 crore, Kakinada-Kotipalli road built at a cost of Rs five crore and several other projects.
