The efforts of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to build the State capital by securing the required land through “land pooling” encountered a fresh hurdle with several farmers seeking intervention of the High Court to protect their lands.
Some farmers from Mangalagiri and Tadepally of the district filed a petition in the High Court alleging that their lands were being forcibly acquired by the state government in its ambitious plans to develop a world-class capital. They sought the intervention of the court to protect their interests by restraining the AP government from taking their lands as they were not willing to part with their lands on which their families livelihood depended.
Similarly, some more farmers from Vundavalli, Penumaka and Nidamarru villages filed the petition against the land pooling.
The petitioners urged the court to prevent the State government from acquiring their lands forcibly for construction of the proposed new capital. They contended before the court that instead of acquiring lands with the consent of the farmers as per Clause 22 of Section 2(52) of CRDA Act, the State government has been trying to take over their lands forcibly with arm-twisting methods.
Admitting the petitions, the High Court directed the Advocate General to submit an explanation of the Andhra Pradesh government and adjourned hearing to Monday.
