Two decades on, promises made to farmers who gave land for Jindal Alumina project not fulfilled

YSRCP MLC, Indukuri Raghu Raju, on Monday urged the State government to do justice for the farmers who had given 1,166 acres of land for the construction of Jindal Alumina project over two decades ago, claiming that the conglomerate had failed to fulfil its promises.

Speaking to media in Boddavara village, he alleged that the promises such as transfer of equity shares and job opportunities for the children of farmers who had supported the government for the land acquisition in 2002 and 2006 were not fulfilled.

Mr. Raju said that the farmers who were paid only ₹2 lakh per acre should be given back the lands as the company had failed to construct the Alumina project in the last two decades. The farmers have the right to seek compensation based on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act-2013, he added.

He alleged that the government had not implemented the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s order which clearly mandated the officials to follow due procedure in ensuring justice to the land displaced families.

“We have organised many agitations in Vizianagaram, Vijayawada and New Delhi over the issues. Now, we are planning to approach National Commission for Scheduled Tribes-New Delhi very soon, since a majority of the farmers belonged to ST communities,” Mr. Raju said.