Veligonda oustees demand hike in R&R package at Gramasabha

Markapuram: The Pula Subbaiah Veligonda Project oustees from the submerging villages refused to accept the rehabilitation and resettlement package offered to them by the government. No person came forward to receive the package by signing the agreement, in the gramasabhas held in five villages on Monday.

The state government ordered the officials to complete the first phase of the Veligonda project on a war footing and make it ready to supply water to public by September. As the project works are restarted after a break due to lockdown, the officials are also started to distribute the R&R package to the affected people. The officials announced the oustees in the 11 submerging villages that they will conduct the village meetings from Monday and people can choose any package, either the one-time settlement of Rs 12.50 lakh or Rs 3.99 lakh with a constructed house in the settlement colony. But, the people from the villages put forward their demands to enhance the one-time settlement package to Rs 20 lakh along with implementation of the same to all male individuals with 21years and above age, providing one government job to each family, based on their educational qualifications.

They demanded the government to provide Rs 15 lakh as a package to the people who want their house constructed by the government.

Markapuram RDO M Seshireddy, special deputy collector Chandraleela formed five teams on Monday and sent them to Gundamcharla, Sunkesula, Kalanuthala, Chinthalamudupi, and Katamraju Thanda to collect the willingness signatures from the oustees. But the people refused to cooperate with the officials and asked them to leave as no one is ready to sign the documents. They demanded the officials to convince the government for their demands and also include the people who are missed in the survey done in 2006 for the package. The officials promised to take their response to higher officials.