The first Gram Sabha on land acquisition for the proposed Adilabad airport was held in Kachkanti village on Wednesday, with revenue officials meeting 32 farmers whose 29.19 acres are identified for acquisition. The farmers sought clarity on compensation, raised objections over discrepancies in land records and demanded employment for families that lose land to the project.
The meeting took place in Adilabad Rural mandal and was attended by revenue officials led by Adilabad Revenue Divisional Officer Pulluri Jagadishwar Rao and Adilabad Rural mandal revenue officer Govind Naik. The officials told the farmers that the compensation rate would be fixed at a meeting between the district Collector and the affected landowners.
Farmers demanded compensation of Rs 6 crore per acre for the land proposed to be acquired. The affected landowners also submitted objections and claims concerning differences between their landholdings and the areas recorded in the primary survey conducted for the acquisition process.
One farmer, Kokkila Chinna Ganganna, said his patta land in survey number 51/2/2/2 measured 1 acre, 35 guntas and 20 cents. He alleged that the primary survey recorded the extent as 1.14 acres. Other villagers also raised concerns that the area shown in official records was smaller than the land they said they owned.
The farmers asked revenue officials to verify the records before the acquisition proceeds and provide clarity on the applicable compensation rate. Officials assured them that errors identified in the primary survey report would be rectified, if found, and said the administration would do justice to the affected landowners.
The affected families also demanded that the state and central governments provide suitable jobs at the proposed airport to members of households losing land for the project. The employment request was raised as part of the farmers’ demands for support linked to the acquisition.
The landowners and residents formed the Kachkanti Grama Bhoo Nirvasithula and Gram Prajalu committee to represent their claims and objections. Kachkanti sarpanch Kurra Dattu and other village representatives were present at the meeting.
The next formal step identified during the meeting is the Collector’s discussion with the affected farmers, where the compensation rate is expected to be considered. The administration is also expected to examine the objections submitted against the primary survey records.
