Google Data centre: MLA warns stern action on land middlemen

Bheemunipatnam MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao warned that the government would take stern action against middlemen trying to mislead farmers of Tarluwada by promising to pay higher rates for lands acquired from them for the Google Data Centre.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao, along with Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad held a meeting with farmers at the Government Circuit House, on Thursday.

He said that the government had increased the price of per acre from ₹17 lakh to ₹20 lakh, following pleas by the farmers. Additionally, the government had also issued a G.O. promising to provide alternate land of 20 cents for every acre. For farmers without land records, the rate of land was initially fixed at ₹8.5 lakh but was later increased to ₹10 lakh. He announced that the compensation amount would be directly credited into the bank accounts of the farmers from Saturday (November 22).

Farmers at the meeting alleged that some middlemen had approached them with offers to pay ₹1.15 crore for 2 acres of land in addition to 55 cents of alternative land. They claimed that the middlemen were even promising to credit 50% of the amount within a day. They further alleged that the middlemen had filed court cases on their names, without their knowledge in the past.

RDO Sangeet Mathur, who was present at the meeting, said that a complaint was already lodged with the police in this regard. The MLA directed Anandapuram CI Vasu Naidu to initiate stringent action against the middlemen, trying to act against the government.

The MLA also assured the farmers that he would take their other demands to the notice of the Chief Minister and strive to do justice to them.

MRO Srini Babu, Tarluwada Sarpanch BRB Naidu and former Sarpanch Majji Venkata Rao were among those who participated in the meeting.