Telangana Cong seeks Guv’s intervention over Mallanna project

Hyderabad, Sep 12 (PTI) Congress state unit today steppedup pressure on Telangana government by submitting a memorandumto Governor ESL Narasimhan seeking his intervention in theMallanna Sagar irrigation project in Medak district, which hadtriggered massive protests. "We requested his (Governor’s) intervention as the firstcitizen of the state on forcible land acquisition and otherissues. The state government is going unilaterally on theproject without considering the hardships being faced by poorpeople there," TPCC President Uttam Kumar Reddy told reportersoutside Raj Bhavan. "The TRS government is misleading the High Court aswell," he alleged. "They informed the court that they will not forciblyacquire land for the project but in reality, they are forcingpeople to part with their land. We have informed the same tothe Governor," Reddy said. He said his party does not oppose construction ofirrigation or power projects but objects to the methodsemployed by the state government for acquiring land. "We oppose forcible acquisition by anti-constitutionalmethods being used in the name of the project," Reddy said. He also alleged that prohibitory orders are in force insome villages in vicinity of the project area for the pastseveral days creating problems for villagers. The K Chandrasekhar Rao-led TRS government has proposedto construct Malanna Sagar irrigation project at YetigaddaKishtapur village in Kondapak mandal, for which it isacquiring 12,000 acres of land. About 14 villages are likely to go under water due to theproject. Once completed, the project, estimated to cost Rs9,800 crore, would irrigate 12 lakh acres of land in Medak,Nizamabad, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy districts. Protesting villagers, however, are resisting acquisitionand are demanding compensation under the Land Acquisition Act2013. In July, farmer B Narasaiah (73), who hailed fromPallepahad village, had committed suicide allegedly againstthe acquisition of land for the project. At least 10 farmers were injured in baton charge bypolice near Yerravalli village when intermittent protests hadturned violent. Reddy further alleged that the state government has notyet prepared social and environmental impact reports for theproject. PTI GDK DKAARSDM