Telangana farmers in distress as Regional Ring Road land acquisition gains pace

The land acquisition process for the Regional Ring Road (RRR) project’s northern segment has sparked unrest among farmers as it gains momentum.

Over 3,429 acres are slated for acquisition to construct the 161.581-km expressway, fuelling fears of displacement among the farmers’ community.

The estimated cost of the northern segment of the Hyderabad RRR has now escalated considerably beyond initial projections, but the compensation component remains almost the same. The land acquisition is feared to have a catastrophic effect on many families.

For them, every cent of land is as precious as a nugget of gold. The compensation offered under current norms is perceived as inadequate, with market values of land ranging from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 5 crore per acre, depending on proximity to urban areas. The compensation offered, in some cases, is barely 10 per cent of the market value.

The preliminary notifications issued for the northern stretch of the project, spanning five packages from Girmapur in Sangareddy district to Rayagiri in Yadadri Bhongir district, have left many farmers in shock. The emotional toll of the project has been



severe.

Nagavelli Chinna Lakshmaiah, a farmer from Varkatpally village in Yadadri Bhongir district, died of a heart attack on Saturday after receiving word from local revenue officials that his land in survey numbers 201 and 202 would be acquired for the project. Despite multiple offers of up to Rs 1.5 crore per acre received from realtors, Lakshmaiah had refused to sell due to his deep emotional attachment to his ancestral land.

Unfortunately, he was not the first in his family to succumb to the stress of potential displacement. Two others have died ever since the land acquisition proposal was received by them. Frustrated by a lack of clear information regarding the future of their land, farmers have rallied around revenue officials. Many have been assured compensation under current orders, which in some cases amounts to a mere 10 per cent of their land’s market value.

Protests have erupted across various districts, with farmers staging a massive dharna at Gajwel after voicing their concerns to the Revenue Divisional Officer. Despite heavy police protection, officials are urging farmers to part with their land, emphasising that the acquisition process cannot be halted.