(Milcah Anila, Intern Journalist) VIJAYAWADA: Even as the state government stands firm on its policy decision to trifurcate the state capital in a bid to ensure decentralized development, farmers who had given their land for Amaravati are putting up a strong fight.
As many as 53 separate petitions including 15 PILs (Public Interest Litigations) have been filed before the Andhra Pradesh High Court contesting the government’s decision.
While the majority of the petitions have been filed by individual farmers, most of the PILs have been filed by Amaravati Parirakshana Samiti and other farmers’ associations in Amaravati.
These associations have moved the high court with a fresh petition or through an interim application whenever the state government has taken a decision with regard to the capital.
The farmers’ associations have challenged the government for not completing development work in Amaravati even before the government announced its plans for decentralization. They have challenged the government’s call for objections to the expert committee report as well.
More than five petitions have been filed for inviting objections to the expert committee report without revealing the same and not specifying the context of the notices.
Further, the state government’s proposal to give house sites in Amaravati to the landless poor from Vijayawada, Guntur, and other places and the decision to shift the vigilance commission and commissioner of inquiries have also been challenged by farmers.
Farmers have managed to get interim relief in those matters as the high court has stayed the shifting of offices and also set aside the government orders on the land allotment.
The farmers have also opposed the proposed changes to the master
plan to include a new zone in the Amaravati master plan to facilitate land allotment for housing.
Relying on the promissory estoppel and the doctrine of legitimate expectations, the farmers have moved a number of petitions seeking completion of works as per the Amaravati master plan and have sought compensation for the delay in completion of trunk infrastructure work.
While the state government is firm on the three-capital formula, farmers as well as other litigants are firm on exploring all legal options. The high court has taken up the hearing of all these petitions together.
With all litigants very particular about their point of view, a marathon hearing is expected with top advocates locking horns.
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