Owners want alternative plots for airport expansion

Vijayawada: The airport expansion has been causing pain to 150 middle-class families as the revenue authorities have started digging land located in Allapuram panchayat without any land acquisition notice. Despite HC orders, the revenue officials have been replying that alternative place will be given to the landowners. The Plot Owners Association of Allapuram are questioning as to how could the officials enter into their plots without giving alternative land or information.

Some people purchased plots in a layout of Allapuram panchayat near Gannavaram. In February, 2016, the Government of Andhra Pradesh issued land pooling notification for airport expansion. As it is a panchayat layout, the officials have offered only 10% of the market value as compensation. In the social impact assessment, all the plot owners have refused to give the land. The association has gone to High Court on this issue.

In the court, the government assured the landowners of following the rules of land acquisition and doing justice to the petitioners. After many meetings and much fighting, the collector has agreed to give them alternative land. The Plot Owners Association of Allapuram proposed a land at Pedaavutapalli, which was taken for rehabilitation purpose only. Initially, officials agreed to the proposal but later, the MRO has given a written notice that the issue is under government consideration and that it is not finalised yet.

On 3rd February, 2018, the government has started road works on the same land. The Association has gone to the court for injunction order. Association president Vedavati told Deccan Chronicle, “We have been fighting for last two years. Every time, the officials are promising and later neglecting us. We have purchased plots here. We are not against the airport expansion. The collector promised to allot alternative land to us but in vain. We have met MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi also, but justice was not done.”

Gannavaram tahsildar M. Madhuri told Deccan Chronicle,  “Actually the government has offered them alternative land in the Captial region but the association members asked for land in the same Allapuram area.  Very soon, the notification will be issued and after the development of the site, plots will be allotted to them in the notified area”.

According to sources,  some leaders of the ruling party purchased lands at Azzampudi, which is far from this land and the same will be taken by the government for R&R purpose.  So to show an alternative for the R&R purpose, the leaders of ruIing party have thought of land in Allapuram and it is for the same reason, there is delay in taking a decision. However, the works have started and this is worrying the plot owners. Deccan Chronicle tried to take the opinion of MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi but he could not be contacted.