Amaravati, December 01, 2025: Nearly 500 farmers who contributed land for Amaravati's first phase in 2015 have pledged their backing for the second round of pooling, covering 16,666 acres across seven villages, but they are pressing for an improved package that includes higher annuities, time-bound allotments of returnable plots, and robust infrastructure development to address the delays and hardships endured since the scheme's inception.
The farmers, organised under the Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi, met with Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) officials at their association office, emphasising that their renewed commitment hinges on assurances of fair compensation and equitable benefits, given the capital's stalled progress under the previous YSRCP government.
The second phase, approved by the Cabinet on November 29, aims to expand Amaravati's footprint to sustain its role as the sole capital, with the government allocating Rs 500 crore for initial settlements. Farmers like Kolanukonda Shiva Prasad Reddy highlighted the need for inflation-adjusted annuities, currently Rs 50,000 annually, and priority housing in developed zones to make the sacrifice worthwhile. "We gave land for a dream; now we want to live it," Reddy said, voicing a sentiment echoed by the delegation.
