Locals reluctant to vacate villages

Locals reluctant to vacate villages November 21, 2011 Ongole Residents of Garlapadu and Dhenuvukonda villages are in trouble for the last five days due to inundation caused by water from the Kandula Obula Reddy Gundlakamma reservoir. Residents of Garlapadu and Dhenuvukonda villages are in trouble for the last five days due to inundation caused by water from the Kandula Obula Reddy Gundlakamma reservoir. Project officials reportedly increased water levels in the reservoir to inundate these villages to force locals to vacate the place. Villagers are not in a mood to abandon the place as most were not provided rehabilitation. Though the project was started in 2008 to irrigate around 80,000 acres, non-completion of canal works had stopped officials from releasing water. Chinamallaram, Ghadiapudi, Garlapadu, Dhenuvukonda, Anaman-amuru, Yerrabalem, Tam-mavaram, Burepalli, Mani-keswaram, Kotikalapudi and Timmayapalem were identified as project inundated villages. However, relief and rehabilitation was provided only to 320 families out of 520 in Garlapadu. Those who did not get rehabilitation have not left the village. Similarly, 850 families out of 1,950 in Dhenuvukonda have got compensatory lands and the rest were not. Earlier, Gundlakamma officials used to maintain water level at 20/21 metres in the reservoir. Now, they have increased it to 23.48 metres, thus inundating the two villages under backwaters. Despite appeals from additional joint collector, Mr Ch. Mohan Rao, and other revenue officials of providing rehabilitation in the next six months and paying house rents, villagers were reluctant to abandon their villages. They demanded allocation of compensatory land at Gundlapalli village adjacent to NH 5 as against the proposed land at Dhenuvukonda. Mr Mohan Rao said that they are looking into the issue.