Tadepalli farmers write letters to governor, saying they want to end their lives

VIJAYAWADA: In a novel protest, a group of farmers of Tadepalli have written letters to Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan seeking his “permission for euthanasia”. They are vexed over the non-acceptance of their plea to remove the U-1 Zone tag, so as to end the governmental restrictions on the use of their farmlands.

The farmers said they ran from pillar to post for long, seeking cancellation of the restrictions but in vain, and have started a relay fast, which too proved futile. As many as 300 farmers have lost their livelihood after their lands were notified as reserve zone (U-1) six years ago.

These farmers said they belonged to Tadepalli, the base and camp office of Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy.

The ryots from Kunchanapalli, Tadepalli and Kolanukonda sent post cards to the Governor, seeking his permission for ‘mercy killing’.

“We lost our livelihood after these lands were notified as the Infrastructure Reserve Zone. We have been observing relay fasts near the municipal office at Tadepalli for the last 13 days, in support of our plea,” the farmers explained to the governor.

The farmers said the former Telugu Desam government had notified about 178 acres of land under the U-1 zone, even as the land did not fall under the capital region.

“We are unable to cultivate farmlands or sell it due to the U-1 zone restrictions. As a result, our source of income has dried up. We have been pleading with the YSR Congress government for lifting of the restriction but there is no response,” they said.