Political Leaders Rally Against Land Acquisition in Hyderabad's Pharma City Project

Hyderabad: At an all-party gathering held Thursday at the Basheerbagh Press Club, Telangana Rakshana Sena chief Kalvakuntla Kavitha levelled accusations of systematic land dispossession against successive administrations in the state.

Kavitha alleged that the previous BRS administration seized 13,500 acres from farmers to develop the Pharma City initiative. She further contended that the incumbent Congress government intends to requisition 30,000 acres for its proposed Future City development.

The event, convened by the Anti-Pharma City Struggle Committee and Telangana People's Joint Action Committee, brought together multiple political factions united in opposition to the projects.

Kavitha raised pointed questions regarding the employment prospects touted by government officials and the ecological consequences of establishing the Pharma City and data centre facilities. She drew attention to a notable deterioration in air and environmental quality across the region.

The political leader also alleged discriminatory acquisition practices, asserting that authorities were seizing holdings from tribal populations while leaving properties owned by wealthy landowners untouched. She pledged solidarity with displaced farmers and indigenous communities, expressing willingness to participate in mobilisations defending their territorial rights.

Judicial and Academic Voices Weigh In

Retired High Court Justice Chandra Kumar articulated apprehensions regarding the systematic erosion of cultivated land through industrial expansion and property development schemes. He underscored the importance of preserving agricultural land to prevent future food shortages and criticised political figures for abandoning commitments made to farming communities.

Academic scholar Professor Haragopal contended that administrations were manufacturing divisions between agricultural producers and state machinery under the guise of modernisation. Drawing parallels to pollution in the Patancheru industrial zone, he questioned the wisdom of situating manufacturing facilities in regions of agricultural productivity. He further charged that governments across political lines have maintained anti-farmer orientations regardless of electoral transitions.

Broad Coalition Emerges

The meeting attracted representatives from multiple political organisations and grassroots movements. Participants included delegations from the CPI, AAP, and the Dharma Samaj Party, alongside various Telangana-based civic groups.

Notable attendees included Dharma Samaj Party leader Visharadhan Maharaj, VKC Party leader Telangana Shyam, and CPI representative Narendra Prasad. The Pharma City Anti-Struggle Committee was represented by convener Saraswathi Kavula and co-convener Kanneganti Ravi.

AAP activists Hema, Ushasri, and Sabitha joined numerous other civil society participants in deliberations centred on land acquisition policies and environmental degradation.