Farmers with fertile land on the river front have intensified agitation against Capital Regional Development Authority (CRDA) even before it comes into existence. The CRDA bill, which is yet to be tabled in the State Assembly, is aimed at legalising land pooling scheme to build a capital city between Vijayawada and Guntur district.

The TDP government identified lands in 29 villages under three mandals –Thulluru, Tadepalli and Mangalagiri – for building capital city. Farmers in 12 villages along the river Krishna are from the very beginning opposed to part with their fertile lands on which they raise two to three crops a year.

When the Ministers visited villages for holding “Grama Sambas” (village assemblies), the farmers raised a banner of revolt against them.  Assuming that they cannot make any impact if they remained mute, the farmers have started preparing for a long haul. The farmers in these villages have now pitched small boards at the entrance of their villages with an inscription “We do not give away our lands.”

Apart from it, the farmers in the villages have already sent as many as 1,000 postcards to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, pleading with him not to “deprive” them of their livelihood. They are also prepared for a legal battle. The farmers in Tadepalli, Undavalli and Penumaka villages have gone a step forward and formed committee under the name “Bhoo Samrakshana Samithi” (Land Protection Alliance). They held demonstrations in front of Guntur Collectorate and pleaded with officials with folded hands not to snatch their lands.

Tadeaplli and Undavalli, which are a stone’s throw from Vijayawada, have been well-developed. Vegetables and fruits raised in these two villages are marketed in the Vijayawada city. It means that the Vijayawada city mostly depends on these two villages for vegetables and fruits.

Even before the government announced its decision to acquire lands in Undavalli and Penumaka, land prices were very high. The land price in Undavalli before land acquisition issue cropped up stood at Rs 13 crore an acre. The land price in Penumaka was Rs 5 crore an acre. With the government making its decision known to acquire lands, the land prices in these two villages have plummeted.