Not Forcing Farmers To Give Lands For Capital: AP

A day after Jana Sena chief and noted Telugu film hero Pawan Kalyan's resentment on the land acquisition approach for Andhra Pradesh's new capital city Amaravathi, the AP government responded on Monday accusing the Opposition of misleading diatribes at the program.

Pawan Kalyan had in his tweet objected to the forced land acquisition from farmers by the Andhra Pradesh government.

"I will not accept this step and the government should convince the land owners before taking their land," Pawan Kalyan had said.

AP Municipal Administration Minister Narayana clarified that the state would not take land from the owners and farmers without their consent.

"We will take the land for the capital city only after the owners concerned give their nod," he maintained.

About 33,000 acres of land has so far been pooled, and the government is said to be planning to acquire some more necessary land if the owners refuse to give it.

However, Narayana said that instead of forcing the farmers, "We will convince them to give their land for the capital city to come up."

He reiterated to the media that the government was only pooling the land for the capital city construction, and only after getting consent from the land owners.