Telangana
,
Wargal and Mulug tehsils
,
Medak
Published :
Oct 2016
|
Updated :
People Affected by Kondapochamma Reservoir in Telangana Allege Violations in Rehabilitation, Compensation
Reported by
Seethalakshmi
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
People affected
2016
Year started
2304
Land area affected
Households affected
People Affected
2016
Year started
2304
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Infrastructure
Reason/Cause of conflict
Irrigation Dam
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Ended
Sector
Infrastructure
Reason/Cause of conflict
Irrigation Dam
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Ended
1
Summary

The Kondapochamma irrigation project in Telangana's Medak district is another milestone under the multistage Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. The reservoir, with a capacity of 7,000 million cubic feet, will provide water to an area of around 2,85,280 acres but also submerge three of the villages completely. Around 5,694 acres of land from the villages of Mamidyal (2,033 acres), Biranpur (1,009 acres), Markook (960 acres), Pamulaparthi (826 acres), Tanedarpally (539 acres) and Kotyala (327 acres) had been acquired for the project, which was strongly opposed by the residents of these villages. In February 2018, residents stalled construction work and demanded the compensation and rehabilitation package promised at the time of land acquisition. They also alleged that pollution in the area had increased after work on the project commenced, adding that many villagers had been diagnosed with respiratory problems. On December 31, 2018, the villagers agitated on site. However, in January 2019, they elected the same ruling party's candidate for sarpanch. By April 2020, construction work was complete, and the residents were allegedly shifted to the newly constructed rehabilitation and resettlement colony. However, they claimed that they were forcefully relocated from their houses on April 30, 2020, with the help of the police, and shifted overnight to small shed houses instead of the promised doublebedroom houses. In an interview in September 2020, they also claimed that were unable to approach the court or the chief minister because of threats by the police. The villagers were additionally promised jobs, but were not given any. The residents managed to challenge the forceful relocation in the Telangana high court, which ordered the temporary rehabilitation of the families on May 7. There were several issues with the temporary rehabilitation from commute to the vanishing promise of permanent settlement. Yet, on May 9, the houses were demolished, and on May 29, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao inaugurated the reservoir project. On March 10, 2021, the Telangana high court sentenced Siddipet District Collector O. Venkatarami Reddy and Special Deputy Collector (land acquisition) Jayachandra Reddy to three and four months of imprisonment, respectively, along with fines to be paid to the court and costs to be paid to the petitioners, for failing to implement the court's orders. The residents remain partially compensated.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for promised compensation

Demand for rehabilitation

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Type of Land

Both

Non-Forest (Grazing Land), Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

1668.55

Type of investment:

Cost of Project

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Irrigation & CAD Department, Police, Revenue Department

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

No

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL)

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Telangana Rashtra Samithi, Congress Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist)

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Seethalakshmi
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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for promised compensation

Demand for rehabilitation

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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