Over 3,300 farmers in Amaravati who gave up their agricultural lands for the proposed capital city development have been left stranded without clear ownership rights to the returnable plots promised to them as compensation. Although plots were allotted to farmers by the government which acquired lands as part of the capital city masterplan, the new state government halted all land acquisition proceedings and withdrew the previous notification. While most farmers received plot registration, around 3,300 find themselves in limbo without official ownership as the government did not transfer the lands to the Capital Region Development Authority responsible for allotment and registration. The unclear legal status of the plots has impacted the farmers who are still awaiting ownership documents years after sacrificing their livelihood lands for the capital project now stalled due to shifting political priorities.
Farmers in Amaravati who gave up their lands for the construction of the capital city have been struggling since the government changed its stance on the development of the state's capital.
Over 3,300 farmers received returnable plots on government or acquisition lands within the capital city masterplan area. A land acquisition notification had been issued by the previous government to acquire these lands. However, after the new government came to power, all land acquisition proceedings were halted. Recently, the government even withdrew the acquisition notification, leaving the farmers in limbo.
Most farmers have had returnable plots registered in their names. Despite significant loss in land value, they still hold on to that land. But one group finds itself in an even more difficult situation, as they are yet to receive ownership rights to returnable plots that were allotted on either government lands or lands meant to be acquired through the land acquisition process under the previous government.
Although the plots were given out, the government did not transfer ownership of government lands, including some endowment lands, to the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA). The CRDA is responsible for plot allotment and registration to farmers. As the returnable plots had not been transferred to CRDA yet, the laws made it difficult for the farmers to get the plots registered on their name.
Puvvada Sudhakar from Amaravati Parirakshana Joint Action Committee (JAC) said over 3,300 farmers are facing this issue.
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