Protests over land acquisition act in KCR's home district

Rattled by the prospect of losing his land to the Telangana government’s land acquisition programme for industrial purposes, a farmer in chief minister Chandrasekhar Rao’s home district died attempting self-immolation.

Karunakar, a farmer from Erravelli village in Kondapaka mandal of Medak district, died of burn injuries at Gandhi Hospital here, becoming the first casualty in the government’s attempt to acquire 52,000 acres in the district for various industrial projects.

A small farmer and a father of two girl children, Karunakar poured kerosene and set himself ablaze after learning last week that his land will be taken by the government for Mallannasagar project.

Bhanoth Chavali, a woman farmer from Etigadda Kistapur Tanda, was rushed to Siddipet government hospital after she suffered a major heart stroke.

“Karunakar was  depressed as the government was only offering Rs 6 lakh per acre as per the new Act, whereas the  2013 land Acquisition Act offered four times the market value,” senior CPI(M) and CITU leader in Medak district Beeram Mallesh said. So draconian is the latest Act that land acquisition has become a district level issue where the process provides no room for negotiation, he further added.