Kadapa: Somasila backwaters evacuees seek compensation

Kadapa: People living in submerged villages of Somasila Reservoir backwaters in the district plan to take up agitation in support of their long pending demands which include payment of compensation, providing a government job and rehabilitation. These demands have been kept pending by various governments in the state for the past 40 years.

About 20,000 families in 105 villages located back waters of Somasila reservoir had given away their fertile lands during the construction of Somasila Reservoir on Penna river in Nellore district 40 years ago. State government has acquired about 1lakh acres under the land acquisition in Nandaluru, Ontimitta, Goparavam and Atluru mandals for the purpose. They were not given compensation nor provided jobs. The youth among the families who were eligible for jobs then, now have become ineligible with the passage of time. Some of them were dead during the period.

Instead of paying compensation and providing other benefits, the state government has been restricting the farmers not to cultivate crops in the lands by saying that they have lost all the rights on them. How for it is justifiable, questioned M Ramachandra Reddy of Venkata Setty Palle village of Atluru mandal.

It may be recalled that government shifted number of families living in submerged area of Somasila back waters due to heavy rains in catchment area of Penna basin.

An irrigation official said that it will not be possible to find immediate solution to pay compensation to the evacuees due to some legal problems as there are some DKT lands which were not eligible for compensation. Another problem is forest department is taking much time for issuing clearance to some lands which has become a hurdle for payment of compensation. It is learnt that state government has allocated Rs 700 crores for clearing the compensation and R&R package.

According to the sources, in September 1997, forest department has listed Somasila Sub merged area in Penusila Abhayaranyam. Forest department has to give clearance to about 20,000 acres in Nandaluru, Ontimitta and Gopavaram mandals. But the issue has been kept pending for the past several years. As per the Forest Act, people are not allowed to enter the restricted lands. ``Problem will not be solved unless government obtained permission from the forest department," said A Bheemaiah former Sarpanch of Chaparavaripalle village of Rajampet mandal .

Meanwhile district In-charge Minister A Suresh along with MLAs of Rajampet, Badvel M.Mallikarjuna Reddy (Rajampet) and Venkata Subbaiah (Badvel) visited some submerged villages and assured the victims that he will strive to solve the problem by bringing the issue to the notice of the Chief Minister.