Andhra Pradesh government had completed a little over 18000 acres of land pooling for the capital construction. Earlier the state government had set February 15th as the deadline to complete the land pooling in the targetted 37000 acres. With 46.95 per cent of farmers submitting consent letters (form 9.3), the government still has to acquire 19,000 acres. With the deadline fast approaching the government will now have to extend the deadline by 15 more days.
The next phase of land pooling will be crucial as the government had to deal with the farmers who are not satisfied the package announced by the farmers. Villages abutting the river bed such as Rayapudi, Undavalli, Penumaka and Tadepalli where land yield 3 to 4 crops per year were reluctant to part their land. However they are still worried as the recent changes to land acquisition bill favours the government.
On the other side, there is a rumour in the political circles that government may slightly increase the compensation to such farmers other than going for the land pooling. The State government is planning to hold the stone breaking ceremony for the capital in June after the Master plan is submitted and approved. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is likely to relocate to the Temporary capital to personally supervise the capital construction.
