Temporary relief to agitating Amaravati farmers

Naveen S Garewal 

Tribune News Service 

Hyderabad, August 4 

After farmers in the Amaravati Capital Region of Andhra Pradesh intensified their campaign to stop trifurcation of the state capital, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has ordered a status quo putting a freeze on Governor Gazette to notify the issue.  

The stay on the Decentralisation of Development and Capital Region Developmental Authority Repeal legislations till August 14 comes with a direction to the government to file a counter reply to the petition by the affected farmers. Amaravati farmers along with Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and others had filed a petition seeking a stay. 

At the same time the farmers around Amaravati, some of them whose land had been acquired by the previous TDP government have intensified their protest asking the AP government to reconsider the trifurcation. In January this year, the state assembly had introduced two bills for the trifurcation of the capital. Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions (APDIDAR), Act 2020, and the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Developmental Authority Repeal Act 2020. 

Ever since there have been protests in the state with the farmers seeking scrapping to trifurcation whereas the TDP has given a 48-hour ultimatum to the Andhra Pradesh government to scrap the move or face fresh elections, which are due no time soon. 

As the protesters from various villages formed a human chain along the road, while maintaining social distance, many were on their knees and with folded hands outside the High Court as the convoys of judges passed. The protesters pleaded that their interests are protected and the government withdraw its move to develop three state capitals.  

The state Governor recently cleared the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Developmental Authority Repeal Act 2020 and APDIDAR Act paving way for shifting key capital functions from Amaravati.

The government plans to develop Visakhapatnam as the executive capital. With the shifting of the offices of the Chief Minister, Governor, ministers, and secretaries to the coastal city, it will become the seat of power. Kurnool will be developed as the judicial capital by shifting the High Court there. Amaravati, which was originally planned as the only state capital and a world-class city, will house the State legislature.  

About 24,000 farmers contributed 33,000 acres of land under a land pooling scheme for the mega plans to build Amaravati on the banks of Krishna river as the dream capital for Andhra Pradesh under the TDP Government. Farmers received allotment papers and were promised Rs 50,000 annuity per acre with an annual hike of 10 per cent for giving away their land. 

But soon after taking over the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) scrapped the capital project and subsequently all investing partners withdrew their offer to finance the project, causing distress to all stakeholders.