Shanti Bai is a resident of Cheelapally tanda in Jarasangam mandal of Sangareddy district. Almost the entire farm land in the village was acquired by the government for establishment of National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) that is coming up in Jarasangam and Nyalakal mandals. and the farmers were paid compensation. Except few acres of land surrounding the tanda, the entire land was acquired for the NIMZ.
Shanti Bai claims she has about two acres of land in the village which she is unable to sell or partition even within family members as it was put in ‘Prohibition list’ by the officials for reasons best known to them.
The villagers, mainly tribals residing in tandas, have the habit of constructing a house in the field itself and sometimes the land in which houses are constructed would be around half acre whereas the house might be in a few hundred yards.
“We are having some land in the tanda in the name of my father. Recently I performed a marriage in our home. I am unable to sell the land as it is in Prohibition list. As a result I was forced to take loans to the tune of ₹ 8 lakh to perform the marriage. We do not know when the lands were removed from the Prohibition list. What is the purpose of having lands when we are unable to use them for pressing requirements?” asks Bikku Singh, a resident of the tanda.
“Disputes are arising within families over not getting the land divided. Though the families are closely knit now, some fear the skyrocketing land rates may change the mind of a person owning the land in his name. What can we do if he changes his mind after seeing the huge money for the land and does not part with it?” asked another villager Sudhakar Jadav.
Even officials have confirmed that the lands under NIMZ were put under Prohibition list though no official orders were issued. “We have oral instructions in this regard. We do not know when they will be removed from the Prohibition list,” said an officer on condition of anonymity.
