Farmers Losing Land to Airfield Raise Concern

ADILABAD: Farmers losing their land for development of the joint-use airfield here have raised their concern over revenue officials' move to issue land-acquisition notifications only for three villages instead of for all identified affected villages in one go.

The officials are all set to acquire land in five gram panchayats.

Farmers say officials are trying to divide them to acquire their lands at lower prices, but they will unitedly fight for better compensation for the oustees.

A meeting held at Kachkanti village on Sunday discussed the problems of the farmers losing their lands and their future course of action.

Revenue officials meanwhile pasted the land acquisition details at the gram panchayats that are notified in the notification.

The farmers of villages that are being affected by the proposed joint use airfield are planning to form a joint action council to present their demands before the state government and district officials.

The state government issued GO-36 dated July 25, sanctioning `2278.14 crore for development of the joint-use airfield at Adilabad.

The state government will acquire a total of 2009.23 acres, including 1609.23 acres for the Indian Air Force and 400 acres for the Civil Aviation Enclave, MRO, cargo facilities and hangars (where planes are kept).

On August 20, the Adilabad revenue officials issued a notification for land acquisition for 160.32 acres at Arli (B) village, 29.19 acres at Kachkanti village and 5.20 acres at Takli village in Adilabad Rural mandal.

In the acquisition notice, the Adilabad revenue officials did not include the identified 844 acres to be acquired on the outskirts of Anukunta village and also the lands to be acquired at Nishanghat, land to be acquired in survey number 68 on the outskirts of Khanapur colony.

Kurra Dattu, Sarpanch of Kachkanti gram panchayat, said the revenue were conducting land surveys without permission from the farmers and giving any prior information and this was unfortunate. They have black soil lands, fertile lands, and are cultivating three crops a year and won’t give their fertile lands without good compensation for their lands.

Dattu said officials of various departments, including the electricity and water, are visiting their lands and conducting surveys, causing anxiety among the farmers. Officials should hold talks with the farmers before taking any decision regarding land acquisition.

Farmer Rajeshwar of Arli (B) gram panchayat said they will not allow the officials to conduct surveys on their lands without discussing the price and fixing it for their lands.

Revenue officials had collected details of basic land value per acre, land value in the open market and also in the Bhu-Bharati portal in phases in the Anukunta gram panchayat and submitted a report to the state government.

They identified the land value of patta agricultural land as `1.5 crore per acre in phase-1 in the Anukunta gram panchayat.

Based on the available data on agricultural land prices, the villagers of Anukunta are demanding that the state government give them compensation for their lands as per the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act).