Instead of the pharma village — which ran into troubled waters — the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation is reportedly gearing up to set up a Multipurpose Industrial Park in Vikarabad.
Published Nov 29, 2024 | 10:19 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 29, 2024 | 10:19 PM
The Telangana government notified its withdrawal of acquired lands for the pharma village in Dudyal Mandal
The Telangana government has issued a fresh notification stating it was withdrawing from acquiring 71.39 acres at Pochepally in Vikarabad’s Dudyal Mandal for developing a pharma village.
Instead of the pharma village — which ran into troubled waters — the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation is reportedly gearing up to set up a Multipurpose Industrial Park in Vikarabad.
The fresh notification withdrawing the acquisition of land for the pharma village was issued on Wednesday, 27 November, 16 days after a violent protest, mostly by farmers, in Vikarabad’s Lagacherla village. The protesters were concerned about their livelihoods, health, and environment.
On 27 November, the Government of Telangana Revenue (LA) Department issued a withdrawal notification in Gazette no. VKB-13.
#Telangana: Weeks after the trouble in Lagacherla village in #Vikarabad district, the government announced its withdrawal of the acquisition of about 71.39 acres. The Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation had earlier acquired the land to set up a #pharma village… pic.twitter.com/r8M28ftSXq
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) November 29, 2024
It informed of the government’s decision to withdraw from acquiring land for the pharma village in Polepally. It further listed the lands, notified for acquisition on 30 July.
The notification listed 35 pieces of dry land in Pochepally village, measuring 71 acres and 39 guntas. It detailed that it was withdrawing from the takeover as per Section 93 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The Act allows the government to withdraw from acquired lands if it has not taken possession of them. It further entails that such withdrawal will also include compensation for the land owners for any damages or expenses incurred during the acquisition.
Additionally, it acquired the land in line with the exemption provided to irrigated and multi-cropped lands under Section 10(1) of the same Act.
On 11 November, Vikarabad Collector Prateek Jain held a public hearing to gather the people’s opinion near Hakimpet, about 40 minutes from Kodangal. However, villagers from the Dudyal, Lagacherla, Roti Banda Thanda, and Pochepally villages boycotted the hearing.
They organised a sit-in protest at Lagacherla village. However, the protest turned violent when the collector arrived in the village without any security personnel. The collector and accompanying government officials were met with “Go Back Pharma” slogans.
The situation went out of hand as stick-wielding protesters cornered the officials. They also pelted stones at official vehicles, damaging their window shields as the officials retreated.
Subsequently, the police detained close to 57 people on the intervening night of 11 and 12 November. Additionally, they also restricted internet access.
While a majority of the detainees were released, the police kept in remand at least 20 members. They also identified Bogamonni Suresh, a local BRS leader as the prime conspirator, and the incident allegedly turned out to be a murder attempt.
Despite numerous challenges, the Pharma City project has been on Telangana’s plate for quite a while. Announced by former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao in 2018, the project received the necessary clearances in 2022.
After the land was acquired, the project seemed to be sailing smoothly. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy even assured that the government would focus on the project in January 2024.
However, in February, incumbent IT Minister D Sridhar Babu reported that the government was scrapping the Pharma City project in favour of the Pharma Village project. Reportedly aimed at driving development in more than one area, he announced that Vikarabad, Medak, and Nalgonda would each have three such pharma hubs.
Subsequently, the government also began the land acquisition process in Vikarabad’s Dudyal Mandal. However, it faced numerous hurdles.
One hurdle was government-created. In September 2024, the government informed the High Court of Telangana that the Pharma City project was intact. It made the submission while the court was hearing about 150 petitions regarding the earlier land acquisition.
Another hurdle came in the form of resistance from the locals in and around Polepally village where the proposed pharma village was to be developed.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
