Andhra Pradesh farmers' unions accuse governments of illegal land grabs
At a statewide public discussion held here on Sunday, the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham and Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Workers' Union brought together High Court lawyers, displaced families, and movement leaders to highlight what they called 'a decade of illegal land grabs' in 173 villages across 64 mandals in 18 districts.
They alleged that police force was misused to seize land, causing severe damage to the State's economy, cutting rural jobs, and threatening future food grain security. While emphasising they were 'not against development,' the unions condemned the transfer of forcibly acquired land to corporates without fair compensation or proper rehabilitation.
The unions listed major projects — from airports and highways to steel plants, solar parks, SEZs, ports, and the Amaravati capital region — which they claimed diverted nearly 20% of the State's cultivated land for corporate use without delivering the promised jobs or industrial growth.
They further alleged that in some cases 'not even 10 government jobs' were offered to displaced people, while locals in Amaravati's Secretariat were given only low-paying roles such as watchmen and sweepers. In areas where farmers' organisations resisted, land acquisition failed, they said, while in other places compensation has been pending for decades, citing Polavaram oustees as an example.
The groups demanded that the Centre and the State strictly follow the 2013 Act, ensuring farmland for industries is acquired only with farmers' consent and after full compensation and rehabilitation. They warned against further forcible acquisitions for corporates and investors, urging lawful and transparent processes.
V. Krishnayya, State president, Rythu Sangham; K. Prabhakar Reddy, State secretary, Rythu Sangham; D. Subba Rao, State president, Agricultural Workers' Union; and V. Venkateswarlu, State general secretary, Agricultural Workers' Union, addressed the meeting.
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