Former Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police J. Purnachandra Rao on Monday demanded land for the displaced tribal families in the command area of the Polavaram irrigation project on lines of the compensation package being guaranteed for those who parted with the land for the capital of Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh. 

In a joint press conference held, Mr. Rao, Advisor of All India Adivasi Constitutional Rights and Cultural Protection Joint Action Committee (JAC) said, “The tribals of the Godavari Valley have lost their land, forest and livelihood opportunities to make way for the Polavaram irrigation project that envisaged to supply Godavari water for more than 10 lakh acres and drinking water in the Northern Andhra Pradesh. Those being displaced for the Polavaram project should be guaranteed land in the project command area.”

Replicate Maharashtra’s rule

On the administrative reformed in the 5th Schedule Area of the Constitution, Mr. Rao has demanded, “In the Maharashtra State, the Governor’s office has a wing dedicated to monitoring the administration in the 5th Schedule Area. A similar wing should be functioning in the office of the Andhra Pradesh Governor, restoring the practice of District Collectors in the Scheduled Area to submit the administration reports to the Governor.”

Convener of All India Adivasi Constitutional Rights and Cultural Protection JAC, Lake Rajarao, demanded that the State government should offer land-to-land to the people displaced due to the project, besides the financial package. “There shall not be any further rehabilitation of the tribals from their ancestral villages until the existing Resettlement & Rehabilitation (R&R) colonies are provided all the amenities and facilities,” Mr. Rao said.

Chairman of All India Adivasi Constitutional Rights and Cultural Protection JAC and former MLA Chanda Lingayya and the tribals from the Polavaram project submergence area hold talks on the future action plan for the implementation of Polavaram Project R&R package.