The revenue machinery allegedly did not provide alternative land within 2 km away to the evictees from Pollavaram village as per the R&R Act.
“We did not even get compensation for damage to our crops in the last six to seven years,” said Lakshman, a tribal farmer of Angaluru. Non-tribals too are demanding compensation as per an R&R package promised in 2014, which has a land-for-land provision.Tribal villagers who were evacuated during 2006-2007, when YSR was at the helm of affairs, from D. Ravilanka, Paragasanipadu and Bodigudem villages only got pattadar passbooks but no land till date.
East Godavari Collector H. Arun Kumar reviewed the situation at Angaluru after speaking to ITDA PO K.N.V. Chakradhara Babu and Rampachodavaram RDO G.V. Satyavathi and ASP K. Phakeerappa on Tuesday afternoon. He said the government did pay compensation to tribal evacuees in 2007-08 as per the old R&R package and also constructed houses for them near Angaluru.
“Only some outsiders are making a hue and cry about compensation. We are ready to pay the rest of the compensation to the one or two tribals who have not got it,” he added.Congress MLC T. Ratnabai, who led the stir on Tuesday, said the government is trying to wriggle out of the R&R package promised to tribals under the 2014 Act. She said the non-tribals coming under the submerging area also eligible for the compensation under the new Act.
We did not even get compensation for crop damage in last six to seven years
Lakshman,tribal farmer
