State told not to dispossess project-hit

The Hyderabad High Court has directed the state government not to dispossess families of blacksmiths, goldsmiths and carpenters from the villages of Chadlapur, Peddakodur and Imambad in erstwhile Medak district who have been affecting with the construction of Ranganayaka Sagar (Imambada Reservoir) project for four weeks.

Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao was dealing with a petition by Viswanatham Bheema Chary and 7 others from the above villages declaring the action of the state government in dispossession of them owing to the deprivation of their livelihood as professional blacksmiths, goldsmiths and carpenters without the necessary rehabilitation and resettlement as guaranteed by the Telangana Amendment Act 2016 (Act 21 of 2017) amending the Right to fair Compensation, Transparency, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LA Act 2013) as illegal.

Ms. B. Rachna Reddy, counsel for the petitioners, submitted that the petitioners are professional makers of agricultural utilities and they lead a meagre life and are completely dependent on the village where they live and work.

She also submitted that the state government has procured the lands from farmers of above villages for the purpose of construction of Sri Ranganayaka Sagar (Imamabad Reservoir) which is part of the large Kaleswaram Lift irrigation project under GO No.123 and the authorities are trying too take possession of lands and also commencing the project works without providing the resettlement and rehabilitation to the petitioners.

Reacting to the submission, the judge pointed out that it would not be proper on the part of the authorities in displacing the petitioners from their villages without providing the relief to them.

While granting the interim order, the judge posted the case after four weeks.