Tension gripped Kakarlavanka of Shantipuram mandal in Kuppam constituency on Tuesday, when people of various hamlets thronged the village, obstructing the entry of the team of Airports Authority of India (AAI) and revenue officials into their fields for conducting survey for the proposed airstrip project.
The two-member AAI team accompanied by the local revenue and police personnel reached Kakarlavanka in the morning to make survey in the agriculture fields and atop a hillock. Farmersblocked the officials from entering the fields and even objecting their move to trek a hillock for a bird's eye view survey.
Armed police from Kuppam, Shantipuram, Rallabuduguru and Chittoor rushed to the village to control the situation. At one stage, the police asked the villagers to leave the survey area failing which they would be forced to make a lathi-charge. In the melee, an AAI official and a revenue staff climbed a hillock and started surveying. Villagers rushed up the hill and forcibly brought them down and grabbed survey equipment, which was later recovered by the police.
The charged atmosphere continued till afternoon.
Meanwhile, TDP leaders, including MPTCs, ZPTCs and sarpanches of Kuppam, Shantipuram and Ramakuppam mandals rushed to Kakarlavanka and tried to pacify farmers assuring them that they would be provided with ample compensation but in vain.
