Landholders turn destitutes

Express News Service
First Published : 10 Jul 2009 02:08:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 10 Jul 2009 10:16:08 AM IST

HYDERABAD: Just two years ago, they were landholders.

Now, after being forced to sell their holdings, all they can hope for is menial jobs like toilet cleaning at units coming up on their own lands.

This is the pathetic tale of around 342 families in four villages who sold 819 acres to the APICC for the Toopran Industrial Park and the Automotive Park.

The victims of the Toopran industrial park poured out their woes before the media here today.

Supported by Telangana Vidyavanthula Vedika, many of them want back the lands acquired by the APIIC in Kallakal, Muppireddypalli, Jeedipally and Kucharam. ``In the name of industrial parks, the government is encouraging real estate business,’’ several victims allege.

Says Narasimhulu, an oustee, the APIIC acquired their lands to set up 39 units.

Only three have come up so far. As per the assurance, each displaced farmer was to be given in compensation for land a job and a house site.

``Sparsa, one unit that has come up, told us that they had 20 vacancies.

But they conducted interviews only for seven and offered only three. The job was to clean machines in the factory. When we asked for more jobs, the industry offered toilet cleaning and other such duties,’’ Narasimhulu complained.As no assurance had been fulfilled so far, the victims are demanding their lands back.

Points out one Mallaiah: ``If we lose one crop, we can still hope for another.

But should we lose a temporary job offered by industry, where is the guarantee of getting another?’’ And another oustee, Bagareddy, alleges that the MLR car factory which got vast tracts of land has already sold away parts of it.

Some of the displaced say they were removed without their consent, and that the APIIC forcibly took away their lands.

And though the revenue officials issued cheques for Rs 5 lakh to some farmers, many did not get the compensation.

``While paying compensation, the officials denied amounts to those who purchased lands from original assignees and non-locals,’’ the victims alleged.

Also, whereas the government paid Rs 5 lakh per acre to each farmer it sold the same to the industrialist for Rs 50 lakh.

The market rate now is between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1.5 crore, the oustees point out.

Usha, who is studying SEZs and industrial parks, said the units in Toopran Park were yet to get going.

Retired professor Vanamali, Prof. Haragopal, Virasam leader Vara Vara Rao, Prof. M Kodanda Ram and others who attended the conference extended their support to the victims.

Kondanda Ram said they would keep up the agitation, meet peoples’ representatives and see to it that the issue figured in the coming session of the State Legislative Assembly with the demand that the government hand the lands back to the farmers.