Give Velimela lands back to tribals: Raghunandan

Hyderabad:BJP Medak MP M. Raghunandan Rao demanded that the government give land rights to tribal farmers who have been cultivating a 429-acre parcel in Kondakal and Velimela villages in Shankarpally and Ramachandrapuram mandals of Sangareddy and Rangareddy districts respectively. He charged that some land sharks had been trying to get control over this huge chunk of land.
Addressing a press conference, Raghunandan Rao said the tribal farmers had been making multiple rounds of revenue offices seeking land ownership rights as they have been cultivating the land for generations. The government had long ago allotted 180 acres to the AP radesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) to set up industries.
The MP said the tribals were being deprived of their rights over the land as some BRS leaders have eyed a large chunk of it. “The revenue officers have given new survey numbers to these land parcels as part of survey settlement. Some BRS leaders took advantage of it and set their sights on the land, which is worth more than `1,200 crore. The dispute started in 2009, is still going on and false cases have been filed against 17 tribals,” he explained.
Raghunandan Rao said the Sangareddy police have been camping on the land for the last three days as some people are trying to get the land by vacating the villagers. He urged Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to sell the 180-acre land and use the funds for Rythu Bharosa. He announced his visit to the village on Friday.