The peaceful gathering aimed to raise awareness about the government's proposed and highly controversial Green Pharma City in the area. At stake is the displacement of four villages of the Mandal and the loss of close to 20,000 acres of farmland.
Published Jan 20, 2025 | 9:33 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 21, 2025 | 9:09 AM
Farmers and civil society representatives came together to protest the Green Pharma City in Rangareddy District
Droves of farmers and activists gathered in Nanak Nagar village of Yacharam Mandal in Telangana on 18 January, amidst police presence. Despite restrictions by authorities and alleged threats against protest, groups sat in the sun on makeshift arrangements in front of the Panchayat office, in the Ranga Reddy district, listening to civil society representatives declaring solidarity towards their cause.
The peaceful gathering aimed to raise awareness about the government’s proposed and highly controversial Green Pharma City in the area. At stake is the displacement of four villages of the Mandal and the loss of close to 20,000 acres of farmland.
#Telangana: Farmers and civil society representatives are jointly protesting the pharma city project set to come up in the #Rangareddy district. Convening in Nanaknagar village of Yacharam Mandal, they air concerns about pollution and loss of agricultural lands.
The… pic.twitter.com/CNZw8nDTUn
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) January 18, 2025
“[Chief Minister] Revanth Reddy put his hand in mine and promised to not let the Pharma City come here. He’ll have to face me if it does,” an elderly woman declared to the crowd.
The roots of this conflict trace back to the erstwhile BRS government. The party had unveiled plans to make Telangana a pharma hub, an aspiration that continues today. Central to this vision was the proposed Green Pharma City.
Ismail is a native of the four villages, leading the protest legally
Under this plan, the pharma city would emerge in Yacharam Mandal’s four villages: Nanak Nagar, Medipalli, Tatiparthi, and Kurimidha, with the government aiming to acquire close to 20,000 acres of land for pharmaceutical companies.
The villagers opposed this proposal. As Baburao, a chemical scientist, pointed out: “The government seems to be missing a crucial point. They are trying to oust people from farmlands to generate employment and revenue. What use is either if there is nothing to eat?”
“The people here are healthy. Yet, they want to bring in pharma which has a reputation for dirtying everything, the land, water, and air. Is that not a violation of their Right to Life?” he asked.
Opposition to the project predates the 2023 Assembly elections, which the Congress won with a majority. However, villagers feel betrayed by the party.
In its election manifesto, the party promised to review the project and take steps to abolish it. Yet this commitment wavered. In January last year, just a month after coming to power, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy assured the project would continue.
Adding to the confusion, Information Technology Minister Sridhar Babu announced its scrapping in February, proposing that a new Pharma Village would replace it.
While the minister outlined plans for 10 pharma hubs across three districts, more confusion emerged when the Telangana government told the high court the initial Green Pharma City project remains intact.
This declaration came just a month before the Lagcherla protests in November 2024, where farmers clashed with officials over land acquisition for the pharma hub near Kodangal.
Amidst all this uncertainty, the government also announced plans to develop a future Artificial Intelligence (AI) city in the same area.
The protest was initially planned for December 2024, but the Ibrahimpatnam Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) issued an order against it. In response, the protestors approached the Telangana High Court, which granted relief and allowed them to protest in Nanak Nagar, upholding their constitutional rights.
Retired chemical scientist raising awareness regarding the potential effects of a pharma city
“Honestly, at the village level where there isn’t a huge gathering, much noise, or traffic obstructions, we do not need the permission of the police to hold a meeting,” Sadiq Ahmed, a high court advocate told South First.
Although the protestors voluntarily informed the police of their movements, they faced restrictions.
“They tried to impose their own rules, restricting the location and the crowds and stating that we had to keep them updated about every move of ours,” Saraswati Kavula, a farmer and activist, explained. She revealed that the police threatened to file criminal cases against them for not answering calls.
“We supported the Congress because they promised to get rid of the project. Now, they won’t even let us question them freely,” said Yadaiah, a villager.
Jagan, an auto driver from the same village, said: “They set up a Green Pharma City Police Station close to our villages. They argue that it’s for our safety but it often feels like it’s to monitor us, to silence us.”
Still, the protest continued under police oversight. “Our issue precedes that of Lagcherla. We’ve been fighting for a change for so long. That is also the reason we campaigned for the Congress during the polls,” Saraswati noted.
“We faced similar opposition from the government during the previous regime as well. However, they weren’t as adamant and arrogant as today.”
The protestors maintain that the Pharma City project violates two fundamental rights.
“This is one of the few areas of Telangana where farming thrives. You barely hear of farmer suicides in these areas,” Sarawati said, adding that the establishment of a Pharma City would end farmers’ livelihood.
During the discussion, Narayana, another protestor, challenged the employment promises: “They are promising us employment if the project realises. However, the employment will go to those outside of Telangana.”
Expanding on the environmental concerns, Saraswati said: “Whether in Lagcherla and the land acquisition, Nirmal and its Ethanol factory, or Dummugudem and its defence project, it is important to safeguard nature before anything else.
“There isn’t a single instance worldwide backed by research where a pharma company has not deteriorated the living conditions of those around. The irony of a ‘Green’ Pharma City aside, if they are suggesting they will make it pollution-free, please inform us how.”
She pointed out that both BRS and Congress made this claim without presenting a concrete plan. “They also try to mislead us by saying it won’t be a pharma city but a future AI city. However, even if that’s the case, bring forth a Detailed Project Report (DPR) before you make promises to the people here or try to intimidate them,” she demanded.
Yadaiah voiced the community’s fundamental question: “We are fine as we are. We haven’t fallen sick. We not only feed ourselves but also sell our produce in the city. Why do they want to destroy these lush green lands which feed them and fill them with concrete?”
The protestors remain resolute in their stance. Their next step involves approaching the courts, with funds for the legal battle being crowdsourced from the farmers themselves, showing their determination not to surrender their lands to the project.
Leading this movement is Ismail, a young resident of Tatiparthi practising law, who reassured the crowd: “If you have any questions, approach me. I’m fighting for us and we need not give in to the police or the government. The law applies to us all and all we’re doing is demanding what’s rightfully ours.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
