HC Refuses Stay On Kaleshwaram, Government Relieved

In a major reprieve for the Telangana TRS government, the Hyderabad High Court today dismissed a petition filed against the Kaleshwaram project works, paving the way for the land acquisition process.

Hearing the case on Saturday, Justice Shamim Akthar refused to grant a stay on the project works.

The petitioner Venkat Reddy had urged the court to stop the project works by granting a stay as the state government was forcibly acquiring lands from the people. The government had acquired 240 acres in Golivada village for the Sundilla barrage under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act so far for the project works, he said.

The state government submitted to the court that the land acquisition for the completion of the project had been done by providing the necessary compensation. Advocate General Ramachandra Rao informed the court that the land acquisition was meant for completing projects that would irrigate lakhs of acres, and that the state government had deposited Rs 19 crores for the payment of compensation to the affected. He said that the land was not acquired forcibly, and that the government had taken every step to reduce the loss of land to farmers via submergence or due to acquisition.