Union Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar stressed that capital development cannot be divorced from village upliftment, arguing that “Amaravati’s credibility will be judged by the living conditions in the villages that made the capital possible.”
Published Dec 15, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 15, 2025 | 7:00 AM
Amaravati capital city design by previous TDP government. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh government has set a one-month deadline to resolve long-pending land pooling grievances in Amaravati, after a three-member committee led by Union Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar stepped in to revive the decade-old capital project. The committee also cleared the restoration of ₹5,000 monthly pensions for 4,929 beneficiaries, along with arrears, calling it a necessary step to address the human cost of delayed development.
A decade after Andhra Pradesh began building a new capital in Amaravati, the project remains marked by prolonged uncertainty, political reversals and unmet assurances.
With development stalled for years and farmers’ patience stretched thin, a recent intervention by a three-member committee comprising Union Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, State Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana and local legislator Tenali Shravan Kumar has injected fresh momentum into efforts to resolve long-pending land pooling grievances.
The Amaravati capital project, envisioned as Andhra Pradesh’s administrative and economic nerve centre, once stood out nationally for its ambitious and voluntary Land Pooling Scheme (LPS).
More than 33,000 acres of fertile land were pooled from nearly 29 villages across Guntur and Krishna districts, with farmers surrendering their holdings in return for developed residential and commercial plots, annuities, pensions and promised world-class infrastructure.
Speaking at a three-member committee meeting at the CRDA office in Amaravati on Saturday, December 13, Chandra Sekhar underscored that the Centre views Amaravati not merely as a State capital project but as a national commitment that cannot be allowed to drift further.
He emphasised that farmers who voluntarily gave up their lands should not be left in limbo, asserting that “justice delayed in Amaravati must now give way to justice delivered within fixed timelines.”
Launched in 2015 by the then Telugu Desam Party government, the LPS was hailed as a pioneering alternative to coercive land acquisition.
Farmers were promised smaller but fully developed plots, typically 800 to 1,200 square yards of residential land and up to 450 square yards of commercial land per acre surrendered, along with annual annuities, pensions, skill training and village-level infrastructure.
However, the project lost momentum after the 2019 change in government, when the YSRCP proposed a three-capital model that effectively froze Amaravati’s core development.
Infrastructure works slowed to a crawl, plot development remained incomplete, annuity payments were disrupted and pensions were stopped for thousands.
What followed were prolonged agitations by farmers, court battles in the High Court and growing financial distress in villages that had already ceded their primary source of livelihood.
By 2024, many of the pooled lands lay fallow, while basic amenities such as roads, drainage, drinking water and sanitation remained conspicuously absent, fuelling accusations of betrayal and policy paralysis.
With the return of a TDP-led alliance and a renewed focus on a single capital, Amaravati has once again taken centre stage.
Phase II land pooling, involving over 16,000 acres from seven villages, has progressed smoothly, reflecting cautious farmer cooperation. Yet unresolved Phase I issues continue to dominate the discourse.
At a recent review meeting, Minister Chandra Sekhar announced that a one-month deadline had been set to address all land pooling grievances, beginning with immediate ground-level inspections, re-surveys and plot verifications.
He said the government would not rely on file-based decisions alone and that “every unresolved case must be examined on the ground, village by village.”
Officials informed the committee that while 61,793 plots have been registered, 7,628 registrations remain pending. Around 700 farmers have been allotted 921 plots, though acquisition-related issues persist.
Of these, 37 farmers have sought alternative plots, which will now be allotted through a lottery system to ensure transparency. Chandra Sekhar observed that fairness in allocations was essential to restoring confidence, noting that past grievances often stemmed from perceptions of unequal treatment.
Large-extent land contributors seeking allotments of up to seven acres were told that such cases would take additional time, a point that continues to cause unease among some farmers.
Beyond plot allocations, the committee placed strong emphasis on village development. Detailed Project Reports have been prepared for infrastructure works in 26 core villages, with tenders expected to be finalised shortly. Planned works include community halls, crematoriums, drinking water supply, drainage systems and enhanced sanitation services.
Chandra Sekhar stressed that capital development cannot be divorced from village upliftment, arguing that “Amaravati’s credibility will be judged not by skyscrapers alone, but by the living conditions in the villages that made the capital possible.”
Village-level consultations are scheduled after Sankranti to ensure farmer participation in finalising development priorities.
In a major relief measure, the committee also cleared the restoration of pensions for 4,929 eligible beneficiaries, with a monthly payout of ₹5,000. Pending pension arrears that were halted during land acquisition will be cleared, and fresh applications will be accepted at local offices. The Union Minister said the pension issue symbolised the human cost of delayed development and must be resolved without procedural excuses.
If implemented sincerely, these steps could ease immediate distress and rebuild trust eroded over the past five years. Infrastructure roll-outs may stimulate local employment and economic activity, while pension restoration offers crucial financial stability to affected families.
Yet challenges remain. Past experience shows that bureaucratic delays, legal disputes and funding constraints can derail even well-intentioned plans. The backlog of pending registrations and dissatisfaction over plot locations point to deeper systemic issues. Farmers awaiting large-plot allotments may feel disadvantaged if resolutions continue to be staggered.
Moreover, the success of Phase II land pooling will depend heavily on whether Phase I promises are finally honoured. Chandra Sekhar himself cautioned that expansion without resolution could strain administrative capacity and undermine farmer confidence.
He remarked during the three-member committee meeting, “Amaravati cannot afford another lost year.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
