Social activist Medha Patkar to visit Mallanna Sagar on Oct 27

To the relief of Mallanna Sagar Project oustees from Vemulaghat village demanding fair compensation in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act 2013, their long 870-day protest is set to go national. It is learnt that social activist Medha Patkar will visit the village on October 27 to discuss the concerns of the oustees who are being displaced from Vemulaghat by the coming up of the irrigation project.

Though the TRS government has tried to mitigate the situation by offering compensation, the oustees have held their ground by demanding all benefits as per the court’s verdict in their favour which directed the government to acquire land under Land Acquisition Act. In fact, they have joined hands with oustees of Kaleshwaram Project in approaching the court to take action against the government.

Meanwhile, Mallanna Sagar Porata Samithi have been making arrangements for Patkar’s visit. In hopes that her visit would take the issue to the natioanl forefront. Farmers and oustees have been rallying support from districts where oustees from other projects have been demanding justice.

Mallanna Sagar Porata Samithi leader Hayat Uddin said that while the government claimed that the project would get completed in the next six months, the oustees were waiting for several issues ranging from rehabilitation to compensations to be addressed.

He added that, previously, when state-level leaders and activists were to visit the Vemulaghat the government had imposed restrictions on holding meeting and rallies. The oustees hope that with the implementation of poll code of conduct, the ensuing meeting would be conducted without much hindrance.