Dear Friends,
Greetings!
In response to promulgation of the Land Ordinance by the NDA governemnt there has been a slew of responses and protests from people’s movements, farmers union, political parties and many others. We believe this has been clearly done to please Corporate Houses and in an unethical and undemocratic manner. The Ordinance is against the principles and objectives laid out in the “Right to Fair Compensation, Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013”.
One of the immediate fallout of the Ordinance is the large scale land grab proposed in the name of development of a new ‘greenfield’ capital city of Andhra Pradesh near Vijayawada in Guntur District. The proposal is to replicate Singapore as the new capital of AP. Projections by GoAP says that the new capital will require 31,000 (Phase I) acres of land from 29 Villages, to go up to 1 lakh acres in subsequent phases. ‘Pooling’ of prime farming land has commenced.
It is to be noted that Chandigarh which is the most acclaimed greenfield capital city only acquired less than 9000 acres in Phase 1, and less than 6000 acres in Phase 2. This low-rise-low-density city has a population of just over one million 6 decades after the commencement of its development. In the event the need for such massive quantum of land for the new AP Capital is intriguing.
NAPM conducted a fact finding in early December in the villages to be impacted by the proposed capital city. Since, then we have been in a process of organising public debates and dialogues on this issue. This has become an extremely important issue, especially in the light of the recent Ordinance promulgated by the Union government amending many key provisions of the LARR 2013. A round table meet on this Issue was organised by NAPM in Hyderabad on January 5, 2015.
The impression being gathered by the ‘massive capital city’ in AP and the Central Ordinance gives out one clear message that people’s consent and rights will not be respected in order to facilitate real estate development and profit for corporate houses. In the age of Marker Reforms it is being propagated that agriculture and farming that feeds and clothes (cotton) 120 crore Indian and provide fodder to the vast multitude of bovine population is inferior and lifeless activity and does not form part of ‘Development’ whereas urbanisation and industrialisation are superior and throbbing activities which is real ‘Development’. Can this be countenanced?
It in this context to discuss these and related issues an interactive dialogue has been organised with activists, farmers, experts, researchers, political leaders and administrators at New Delhi on 19 January, 2015. We would like to earnestly invite you to participate and contribute to the proceedings.
Program brief
Date : Monday 19th January 2015
Time : 10:30 AM to 05:00 PM.
Venue : Speaker Hall,
Constitution Club,
Rafi Marg,
New Delhi – 110 001.
Tentative Agenda
1030 – 1100 Registration
1100 – 1200 Examine Different Aspects of the Land Ordinance and Greenfield Capital of Andhra Pradesh and discussion
1200 – 1300 Discussion
1300 – 1400 Lunch
1400 – 1630 Response from political parties on the Land Ordinance
1630 – 1700 Summing-up and Discussion
For Further details, please contact:
Bhupathiraju Ramakrishnam Raju NAPM National Convener AP, (9246563738, napmhyderabad@gmail.com)
Madhuresh Kumar, NAPM National Convener Delhi ( 9818905316, napmindia@gmail.com )