Kandukur Farmers Stand United: A Fight for Fair Compensation in National Highway Land Acquisition

A deep sense of injustice grips the agricultural community of Kandukur, Andhra Pradesh, as farmers voice their profound dissatisfaction with the compensation offered for land acquired for the ambitious National Highway 167B project. While the development of critical infrastructure like the highway is undoubtedly vital for progress, local farmers argue that their livelihoods are being disproportionately affected, leaving them in a state of financial insecurity and despair.

The contention centers around the valuation process for approximately 180 acres of fertile land, spanning across a dozen villages.

Farmers claim that the compensation packages, finalized by local revenue officials, are starkly inadequate, falling far below current market rates. Many feel that the unique economic value of their agricultural land, often passed down through generations, has been severely underestimated, treating it merely as barren plots rather than productive assets.

Beyond the land itself, a significant point of contention arises from the undervaluation of standing crops, borewells, and other essential agricultural infrastructure.

Farmers lament that the assessments for these vital components, which represent years of investment and hard labor, are significantly lower than their actual replacement costs. For many, these structures are not just assets but fundamental tools of their trade, without which their farming operations cannot continue.

“They are taking away our future,” expressed one distraught farmer, highlighting the emotional and economic toll of the acquisition.

“The compensation offered wouldn't even buy us a fraction of what we are losing, let alone allow us to restart our lives elsewhere.” The sentiment of being shortchanged and marginalized is widespread, with many recalling previous land acquisition drives where compensation was reportedly more equitable.

Local farmer associations have been at the forefront of this struggle, organizing protests, submitting petitions, and holding numerous discussions with district authorities.

They are appealing for a re-evaluation based on genuine market rates and a more comprehensive assessment of all affected assets. The farmers are not against national development, but they demand justice and fair treatment, emphasizing that their contribution to the nation's food security should not be undermined by unfair compensation practices.

The issue has now escalated, with many farmers contemplating legal recourse, prepared to take their fight to the courts to secure what they believe is their rightful due.

As the NH-167B project progresses, the clamor from Kandukur serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of development, urging authorities to ensure that progress is truly inclusive and equitable for all stakeholders, especially those whose ancestral lands form the very foundation of their existence.