4 days ago
Grama sabha for LPS 2.0: farmers want clarity on status of Amaravati capital, higher compensation
There was mixed response from the farmers of the Amaravati capital region during the grama sabhas organised by the State government as part of the second phase of the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS 2.0), aimed at acquiring agricultural land for the expansion of the capital city.
The meetings, held across Guntur and Palnadu districts, witnessed a wide range of questions and concerns from the farming community, particularly around the government's past performance, the future of Amaravati, and assurances for their livelihood.
The State government, through the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA), revenue authorities and local representatives, began conducting grama sabhas in villages.
On Saturday, grama sabhas were conducted at Garikapadu, Ponnekallu, and Nidumukkala in Guntur district.
The initiative was part of its renewed push to acquire land after announcing LPS 2.0. However, farmers were demanding accountability for the promises made during the first phase between 2014 and 2019.
A key concern raised across all the meetings was the lack of clarity on the legal and political future of Amaravati as the capital city.
Farmers wonder when Amaravati would officially be notified as the capital, and who would guarantee its status in case of a change in government after the next general elections. Many also sought a revised compensation package, citing increased land values and inflation over the past decade.
Lack of trust
At Ponnekallu, the villagers boycotted the grama sabha, saying the government had failed to build trust.
Local farmer Devireddy Nagender Reddy said, 'The government didn't fulfill its promise of developing Amaravati after acquiring our land almost 10 years ago. Now it is seeking more land for expansion, without even notifying Amaravati as the official capital. Our lands are located in prime areas, not remote ones — with market values above ₹4 crore per acre. We need a much better compensation package to even consider this.'
In contrast, the villagers at Garikapadu and Nidumukkala showed tentative support for LPS 2.0, but with a list of demands. They urged the government to provide detailed plans about the industries that were expected to be established in the second phase, the location and size of returnable plots, and a higher annuity. Concerns were also raised regarding benefits for landless families affected by the proposed land pooling.
Tadikonda MLA Tenali Sravan Kumar, who was present at the meetings, along with APCRDA officials, assured that the feedback received would be compiled and presented to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for review.
He reiterated the government's commitment to building a world-class capital, and stated that LPS 2.0 would be guided by transparency and mutual benefit.
Despite the differing views, the grama sabhas underscored one aspect — the farmers want guarantees, not promises. As the State moves ahead with its capital expansion plans, the future of LPS 2.0 may well depend on how effectively it wins back the trust of its original stakeholders — the farmers.
