Farmers from the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) area have urged the State government to exempt fertile lands on the banks of river Krishna from land pooling. Farmers of Thulluru, Rayapudi, Mandadam and Penumaka met MLC Prof  K Nageshwar, who visited these villages on Friday for an on-the-sport study of farmers’ problems, and prevailed upon him to convince the government in this regard.

“Taking away of their fertile lands for developing the State capital would hit the food security for the people in general and deprive the farming community of their livelihood in particular,” the farmers said. Thulluru farmers said they were prepared to give the lands for the capital development but wanted the State government to come out with a clear plan on compensation to be paid to them in return for their lands.

“We are confident that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would develop the area. We have seen him developing Madhapur and building hi-tech city there as Chief Minister in the past,” said Madala Subba Rao, a farmer hailing from Thulluru village. He said most of the farmers were in favour of giving their lands but were only wanted him to make a law on compensation.At Rayapudi, a farmer, Allam Nageswara Rao, said that no government officer had officially explained to them on the package that the government was intending to give in return for their lands.

He wanted the Chief Minister to make his plans clear and also visit the villages instead of calling them to Hyderabad or Vijayawada. “The Chief Minister should tell us what he has in his mind and what compensation he would give us,” he said and maintained that the farmers would not give lands unless these issues are cleared.

He also opposed the proposal to take the fertile lands from the farmers and thus destroying agriculture. Stating that Rayapudi village, once known for Guava, had lost its fame due to the smoke emanated from Narla Tatarao Thermal Power Station, he feared that the capital would sound a death knell for Rayapudi lemon.

He said lemon from Rayapudi has international market and is most sought after in Delhi, Mumbai and other areas in the country. The farmers at Penumaka expressed opposition to the State government’s move to destroy the fertile agriculture lands where 120 varieties of horticulture crops are produced. They asked the government to exempt these fertile lands from pooling in the larger interests of the State.

A farmer, Kallam Aravinda Reddy, said the destruction of agriculture in the fertile lands would displace several hundreds of families and also would have adverse impact on food security. “We have developed these lands all these years. We grew three crops a year and feed the State besides feeding ourselves. Where will we go if our lands are taken like this,” he asked.

Another farmer, Muppera Subba Rao, said the farmers knew only agriculture and if the lands are taken away, what occupation he can pursue. He also found fault with the government for acquiring lands for industries. “If the government acquires lands that are required for its own estabilishments like Assembly, Secretariat, High Court and residential quarters, it does not need 30,000 acres. Let the private investors, who want to establish industries here at a later stage, purchase from the farmers directly.

The government should not acquire lands for the private people,” asserted another farmer, Gudibanda Srinivasa Reddy. Krishna Delta Parirakshana Samithi convener Kolanukonda Sivaji,cautioned the government against using any coercive methods to acquire the land. He wanted the government to move the capital a little away from the fertile lands along the river Krishna.