VIJAYAWADA: A three-member committee set up to tackle outstanding issues for farmers in the capital region announced on Saturday that land acquisition challenges are close to resolution, and infrastructure efforts in capital villages are set to accelerate.
The committee includes Union Minister and Guntur MP Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P Narayana, and Tadikonda MLA Tenali Sravan Kumar. They also addressed the issue of pensions for the landless poor, assigning CRDA officials to review each application.
Pemmasani stated that all pending concerns have been sorted into major and general categories, prioritizing based on urgency and impact on farmers. “We have nearly resolved all 47 land acquisition matters, with a final resolution expected within a week. There are still approximately 2,500 acres pending acquisition for capital requirements,” he said.
He noted the swift registration of returnable plots, with 61,793 out of 69,421 land pooling plots registered so far. “In the next few days, we expect to finalize the registration of the remaining 7,628 plots. Legal issues regarding Lanka lands have been resolved, enabling registrations. A committee is evaluating soil conditions and water levels on 180 acres associated with the Jarib lands issue, with a report due in two weeks,” he added.
Narayana emphasized the top priority on infrastructure development in capital villages, announcing that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 29 villages are underway, with 12 already completed. Tadikonda MLA Sravan Kumar reported a survey indicating that 69% of farmers are willing to wait for returnable plots on the same lands post-acquisition, while 9% prefer alternative plots, and the rest seek additional time. “The previous government’s withdrawal of pensions for the landless poor has been reversed, adding around 3,000 new beneficiaries. Additionally, 18,000 new members have received health cards, and 2,000 additional cards have been issued,” he stated.
