Harish coercing ryots to part with lands under GO 123: TDP leader

TDP Telangana leader and farmers’ association president Onteru Pratap Reddy has refuted the statement of Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao that the displaced farmers of the Mallannasagar project have accepted to part with their lands under GO 123. “The statement of Harish Rao is totally untrue that Erravalli, Vemulghat, Lakshmapuram and Kistapur villagers have agreed to give their lands as per GO 123”, Pratap Reddy told mediapersons on Friday. Alleging that local TRS leaders have become brokers and trying to grab the lands of farmers, Onteru said situation in the villagers under Mallannasagar project was such that people were living in fear due to the presence of a huge police force. The TDP leader demanded that minister Harish Rao release a white paper giving details of lands acquired from each village for the project. He also alleged that the State government did nothing for the people during the last 26 months in terms of re-imbursement of fees, loan waiver and double-bedroom schemes, which have become mere slogans. Though the Chief Minister had announced that lands would be acquired as per the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, Harish Rao was taking over lands under GO 123, Pratap Reddy alleged.