Tullur farmers to protest against panel visit

VIJAYAWADA: Farmers in Tullur mandal in Guntur district, particularly those who own lands along the Krishna river bank, are busy making preparations to hold a protest in case the 14-member capital committee led by Khoo Teng Chye, executive director of Centre for Livable Cities, Singapore visits the villages.

'We will not allow them into our villages. They were supposed to come today but probably sensing the mood of the farmers, they chose to conduct an aerial survey. But even that did not take place.

Already we have information that ground is being prepared to make preventive detention of some farmers who are likely to create trouble which indicates that the team is going to visit the villages soon,' said M Seshagiri Rao, convenor of Farmers Federation.

He alleged that the entire exercise would destroy about 10,000 acres of fertile agricultural land along the Krishna river bank, extending to two km width. This land is unique because there are 120 varieties of crops cultivated here throughout the year. These crops include 45 varieties of vegetables, 30 varieties of fruits and 41 varieties of flowers,' he said.

Expressing his displeasure over the hasty decision to launch land pooling, Seshagiri Rao said the chief minister should not have announced the decision in a hurry.

'Why the hurry? Even Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) is not in place. Where is the master plan for the capital area? Land pooling should commence only after completing all these phases.

They are starting the work with land pooling which in fact should have come last. In the present circumstances, land pooling is against the law. Doesn't Naidu know that we can approach the court and have the entire exercise dashed?' he asked.

K Babu Rao, a scientist, who is a native of the region but settled in Hyderabad, wondered why should a farmer sacrifice his livelihood for the capital region. 'Has any politician sacrificed any of his interests? The government does not appear to be knowing the disastrous consequences of tampering with nature.

It is getting ready to destroy fertile lands along the Krishna river. The government has not yet learnt any lessons from cyclone Hudhud,' he said and wondered 'Why the government was trying to to destroy fertile lands at a time even World Bank is talking about destruction of nature which is triggering climate change'?

Anumolu Gandhi, a farmer from Lingayapalem village opined that it is unfortunate that the political parties are not coming forward to defend the interests of farmers.

'Farmers are very disturbed. Their livelihood is being snatched away. Political parties are worried that they would be branded anti-development if they come out in support of the farmers,' he added.