Scores of farmers affected by the Pharma Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Polepalli and two villages nearby today staged a daylong "Bhoosatyagraha" at the venue demanding that the State Government return their land.
Of the 1,000 acres acquired by the State Government in 2002, only 155 acres were earmarked for the Pharma SEZ and the remaining land still lies unutilised.
Praja Rajyam Party founder Chiranjeevi is likely to visit Polepalli tomorrow to express solidarity with the SEZ victims.
Today, the protesters — including several women belonging to Polepalli, Gundlagadda tanda and Mudireddipalle—came to the SEZ around 11:00 a.m. and staged a dharna till the evening.
"We are only demanding the return of the remaining 845 acres which have not been utilised so far," Polepalli SEZ Vyatireka Ikya Sanghatana (PSVIS) convener Madhu Kagula told to this website's newspaper.
According to him, the State Government acquired 1,000 acres in 2002 from 320 farmers to set up an SEZ, which was notified in November 2006. Some farmers who lost their lands to the SEZ are working as labourers in the companies that are being set up on the land, but tragically nearly 42 have died over the last six years due to hardship from unemployment, compounded by delay in receipt of compensation.
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