Tension prevailed in Gudatipally village in Telangana’s Siddipet district as some of the villagers displaced by Gauravelli Reservoir came out on streets demanding compensation for their lands.
Police took some protestors into custody as they were trying to prevent officials from conducting a survey before conducting the dry run of the machines to pump water into the reservoir.
There was a minor scuffle between protestors including women and police personnel.
District Superintendent of Police Sweta Reddy, however, denied that there was baton charge. She said some people were taken into preventive custody as the officials had approached police stating that they were being stopped from discharging their duties.
She said a case has been registered against those who obstructed the work.
State BJP chief Bandi Sanjay alleged that police resorted to high-handedness against those who opposed the move to take up the works without implementing relief and rehabilitation package.
He slammed the police for resorting to arrests around midnight. He alleged that the police personnel misbehaved with women.
State Congress President A. Revanth Reddy also condemned the alleged lathi charge and arrest. He said that his party would stand by the protestors till they get fair compensation.
Meanwhile, revenue officials clarified that payment has been made to 175 farmers for the lands at the rate of Rs 15 lakh per acre.
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According to officials, compensation is yet to be paid for about 50 farmers for 85 acres of land. A total of 927 out of 937 got R&R package in 2017.
The authorities have already acquired 3,916 out of 4,000 acres required for the project which is expected to fulfill the long cherished dream of people of Husnabad constituency.
The reservoir, which will get Godavari river water, will meet the irrigation needs of the constituency.
Godavari water will flow from the Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) to the Mid Manair Dam and from there the water will be diverted to Thotapalli reservoir and then to the pumphouse of Gouravelli project.
Telangana State Planning Board Vice Chairman, B Vinod Kumar, said in the undivided Andhra Pradesh, the project was designed for only 1.141 tmcft, but after formation of Telangana, it was redesigned and the capacity was increased to 8.3 tmcft.
The authorities are going ahead with the works for the initially proposed dry run for 1.141 tmcft. As the motors to pump water into Gouravelli reservoir were brought from China and Japan, the officials are working to conduct the dry run to test their functioning.
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