MACHILIPATNAM: Tension prevailed at Pothepalli village in Machilipatnam mandal of Krishna district when the locals obstructed the revenue staff from entering the village, leading to a heated argument with the officials and lathi-charge by the police.
On Saturday, revenue officials led by tahsildar Naradamuni went to Pothepalli for conducting a survey, as part of ‘Mee Intiki Mee Bhoomi’ programme, but were obstructed by the locals at the village entrance. The villagers demanded the officials to visit only after the land acquisition notification for the Machilipatnam Port was withdrawn.
They also made it clear that they will not give away their lands for port or industries, following which war of words ensued between the two groups. With situation slipping out of hands, the police intervened and when the protesters continued to argue, the former resorted to lathi-charge. As a result, the revenue officials returned without conducting the survey and an uneasy calm prevailed in the village.
On Friday, the villagers of Pottlapalem disrupted the ‘Mee Intiki Mee Bhoomi’ programme opposing land acquisition for the port and industries. They even burnt a couple of chairs to vent their anger. Meanwhile, the villagers of Kakarlamudi in Pedana Assembly constituency boycotted ‘Grama Sabha’ organised as part of ‘Mee Intiki Mee Bhoomi’. Explaining the reason for boycotting the programme, they lamented that they stand to lose 835 acres to the port and industries, which will render them jobless.
