The death of a farmer during a crucial meeting has plunged the ongoing efforts to resolve the Amaravati capital region disputes into fresh turmoil. Dondapati Rama Rao, a resident of Mandadam village, collapsed and died on Friday evening while participating in discussions with the state-appointed three-man committee.
Meeting Turns Tragic: A Farmer's Collapse
The incident occurred during a meeting held by municipal administration minister P Narayana, Tadikonda MLA Tenali Sravan Kumar, and officials from the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA). The agenda was to discuss a new alignment for the N8 road. Eyewitnesses state that Rama Rao collapsed minutes after he spoke about the compensation to be paid to those losing their house sites. He was rushed to a hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead.
Outpouring of Grief and Anger
The tragedy has ignited the simmering discontent among the capital region farmers. On Saturday, when Union minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, along with MLA Sravan Kumar and Minister Narayana, visited Rama Rao's family to pay their respects, they were met with loud slogans. Family members and fellow villagers blamed the committee for the farmer's death, highlighting the prolonged stress and unresolved grievances.
Farmers have been consistently expressing their displeasure over several pending issues in Amaravati. The core problems include:
- Plots allotted in lands that are yet to be acquired by the government.
- Inadequate compensation packages for houses demolished for road projects.
- Allocation of plots in water bodies and low-lying areas that are unsuitable for construction.
Committee Under Fire Despite CM's Assurance
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had earlier held meetings with the farmer groups, assuring them that the three-man committee would resolve all outstanding issues. However, the lack of tangible progress has led to growing frustration. The death of Dondapati Rama Rao has become a focal point for this anger, with the community holding the committee responsible for the non-resolution of their long-pending demands.
In the wake of the incident, CM Naidu spoke to the bereaved family and assured them of all possible help from the government. Nonetheless, the event has cast a long shadow over the committee's work, raising serious questions about the pace and efficacy of the resolution process for the Amaravati capital region farmers.
