'Another land grabbing in the name of Bhogapuram Airport'

Farmers protest against Airport 

Vijayanagaram: A proposal of expanding the existing Visakhapatnam airport is considered long back, bearing in mind the need of people and planning to make it as a Gateway. Overall, in the State, it is the only place where an Airport is existing supporting the seaport imports and exports of goods. Due to this reason, there was a search for lands along the four directions around the city where they concluded it to be the Bhogapuram place.  

However, till here it went on well. The actual issue raised when the state is announcing that it will construct an international airport on 15,000 acres of land is irrational. No international airport in the country has been set up on such a large area whose acquisition would adversely affect farmers. Chennai International Airport is built on 1,223 acres, Mumbai airport has been built on 2,000 acres and Cochin airport is built on 800 acres. 

The only reason for land pooling, by the TDP Government is just to cut off the throats of the poor farmers which can be considered as a commercial agenda of Telugu Desam party. Presently, the process of land pooling is going on under many conditions under. Farmers are already in trouble after they got a raw deal in the loan waiver scheme and the amount released does not even match the interest accrued. Such moves will further push farmers into a tight corner. Showing this land pooling scheme, “thousands of acres of land has to be taken while hardly few square yards of land has to be omitted”, is the underlying essence in this scheme of Telugu Desam party. The details of this commercial proposal are given to the local TDP cadre, wherein the local TDP representatives, have taken it as a challenge and being devoted to the party they go hand in hand and grab lands to score marks before the Party President. 

The only talk you hear all around is, “Is this much land required to construct an airport?” No international airport in south India has been set up on such a large area. In the name of airport, there is a good Real estate business going on. Such acquisition of land would adversely affect farmers in entire bhogapuram mandal. 15thousands of acres of land is grabbing from the farmers, whereas 28 thousands of acres of land is available in this mandal. So that means, half of the mandal will be grabbed by yellow shirts..

The first voice rose against the proposal while considering the local people opinions was none other than the YSRCP. This movement is against snatching the fertile lands in the name of Airport. The MLAs representing these districts – Sujaya Krishna Rangarao, All party team leaders Kakarlapudi Srinivasa Raju, other senior leaders raised the flag against the movement. Ruling party on the other hand is creating insecurity in farmers and moving the land pooling process faster. Generated various problems and have been part in this Land pooling process. 

At the time of his tour in Vijayanagaram district, Party chief YS Jagan has called the local party members, for a meeting to talk about the airport agitation. Jagan suggested that the MLA’s and senior leaders of north Andhra districts, should have a meeting and think of the possible solutions for those people. He also insisted that right people in the parties, need to talk to the farmers and peasants, note down their problematic areas. Based on this, he mentioned that the possible solutions need to be explored. He insisted to form a committee to lead this agitation.