Visakhapatnam: The Joint Action Committee representing various Adivasi unions and associations have decided to meet Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy during his visit to Araku Valley on May 12.
The adivasi leaders would apprise the CM of how the proposed bypass roads were taking away the agriculture lands of the poor adivasi farmers.
“We sought an audience with the chief minister to explain how the bypass roads would affect the livelihood of the farmers in some mandals of Alluri Seetharama district,’’ said district convener of JAC Ramarao Dora.
Dora said a five km bypass road was being laid in Paderu, which would cut through 600 acres of the green agriculture land that provides two crops to the farmers. Similarly, a two km road was being laid in Hukumpeta, affecting the livelihood of over 100 farmers.
He said existing roads could be widened without going for bypass roads, but due to the pressure from the non-tribal business persons, the administration has changed the original plans.
As per the new land acquisition Act, the government has to provide alternative land if more than 20 families were displaced. When JAC members asked the collector about the alternative land involving the new land acquisition act, the collector said there was no land available to compensate the farmers.
Dora said the JAC would also explain to the chief minister the new problems that had cropped up after the new district was carved out.
