Even as the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition government headed by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been claiming that the works on the capital city of Amaravati are going on in full swing, the farmers who gave away their lands for the project are still facing a lot of uncertainty.
The farmers who had agitated under the banner of Amaravati Rajadhani Parirakshana Samithi (Amaravati capital city protection committee) during the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy regime, continue to raise the issues under the same banner even now.
In a representation given to state minister for municipal administration and urban development P Narayana on Wednesday, the farmers raised several issues and demanded that their problems be solved while undertaking the capital city works.
Some of the points raised by them are:
1. Legal Recognition for Amaravati as Capital: We request that Amaravati be formally declared as the capital of Andhra Pradesh through legislation in the ongoing session of Parliament.
2. Withdrawal of Pending Legal Cases: The case related to the three capitals initiated by the previous government is still pending in the Supreme Court. We request the government to expedite its withdrawal. Similarly, the case concerning the R-5 zone in the capital region should also be withdrawn.
3. Resolution of Returnable Plot Issues: Issues concerning returnable plots allocated to farmers — particularly plots on lands not included in land pooling — should be resolved immediately.
4. Pending Annuity Payments: Several farmers are yet to receive their annual annuity payments and pending balances over the past 11 years. We urge the government to credit these amounts to the respective farmers' accounts without further delay.
5. Boundary Demarcation of Plots: Due to mass public meetings and other disturbances, many returnable plots lack boundary stones. Peg marking should be completed urgently, and boundary markers should be installed.
6. Infrastructure Project Delays: CRDA has allocated land to central and private institutions in the past and recently. Immediate steps must be taken to ensure these entities start construction at the earliest.
7. Lack of Local Body Elections and Funds: Due to the absence of local elections in the capital villages over the last ten years, the villages haven't received 15th Finance Commission funds, affecting basic infrastructure development. The CRDA had previously allocated some funds, but now all villages must be funded and developed accordingly. Also, the pending registration surcharge dues to villages must be released.
8. Land Acquisition for Key Infrastructure: Remaining lands in the capital villages should be acquired through land pooling or acquisition. If not addressed, it could hinder works related to Palavagu, Kondaveeti Vagu, and Seed Axis Road. These roadworks should also be completed quickly.
9. Issues of Assigned Landholders: Assigned farmers under Category 4 have not received plots via lottery or registration, nor have they been paid annuities. Similarly, Category 5 landholders in Rayapudi face the same issues. These problems should be addressed immediately.
10. Electricity Tower Obstruction: High-tension electricity towers passing through farmer-allocated plots are causing problems for selling the land or constructing buildings. These towers must be removed promptly.
11. Zoning Discrepancies in Residential Permissions: CRDA is denying housing permissions in exemption areas by stating that those lands fall under different zones. These areas should be peg-marked and converted to R1 (residential) zones.
12. Pending Village Periphery Issues: Village periphery issues in capital region villages are still unresolved. The government should take a firm decision and provide a solution.
13. Discrepancy in Survey Records (Jaribu/Metta): In some villages, lands earlier classified as ‘Jaribu’ (fertile) — and accordingly allotted plots and annuity — are now shown as ‘Metta’ (barren). These classification issues must be corrected.
14. Interest Subsidy on TIDCO Housing Loans: The interest dues on loans taken by poor beneficiaries for TIDCO houses under the previous government must be cleared.
