Return Vanpic lands to farmers

HYDERABAD: Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao has demanded the state government to return the lands acquired for Vanpic project in Prakasam district to farmers from whom they were acquired. A farmers’ delegation from Prakasam district met the senior Congress leader at his residence here on Friday and urged his intervention on the issue.The farmers told the Congress leader that nearly 6,000 acres was acquired for Vanpic project but they are yet to receive the agreed compensation.Farmers of Aluru and Gondlapalem villages alleged that before 2009 elections former minister Balineni Srinivas Reddy had promised to pay Rs 1 lakh per acre as compensation to farmers whose land have been acquired for the project and that a member in household would be provided a job.Though the land has been acquired, the project has not yet taken off as a result of which the land was remaining fallow. The farmers said they explained all these issues to the CBI team.