Government Urges Faster Land Acquisition for Polavaram and Highway Projects

Rapid Summary:

• District Collector K. Vetriselvi held a video conference on August 5, 2025, to review land acquisition for projects including the Polavaram Project’s R&R packages, national highways, and YSR-Jagananna Saswatha Bhoohakku Mariyu Bhooraksha (YSR-JBM) survey units.
• Around 5,000 acres are required for Polavaram-related R&R packages in the district.

– 800 acres identified in Buttayagudem and Jeelugumilli mandals; an additional 600 acres recently marked.
– Remaining acquisitions must be completed by August 15.

• She stressed transparency during Gram Sabhas with farmer participation, ensuring government norms are met for compensation and that procedures remain voluntary and farmer-friendly.
• Officials were instructed to prioritize land handovers for national highways swiftly and meet targets under YSR-JBM survey units.
• For new 4G mobile tower installations (Airtel, Jio, BSNL), permissions will require field inspections to minimize public inconvenience while maintaining adequate distance from residential areas.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The directives issued by District Collector K. Vetriselvi demonstrate a push towards expedited infrastructure growth in the district while maintaining procedural integrity. Transparent measures involving farmer consultations via Gram Sabhas signify an attempt to minimize disputes over land acquisition. This approach ensures fairness in compensation but also requires effective interaction efforts from authorities.

Completing Polavaram-related acquisitions within tight deadlines could considerably boost project timelines-critically important given its long-awaited socio-economic benefits-but rushed processes might pose challenges if key stakeholders feel inadequately consulted. Similarly, balancing infrastructure needs (like highway expansions or mobile connectivity improvements) with public convenience intervals reflects efforts to maintain community welfare alongside development objectives.The focus on field-level inspections for mobile tower placements suggests responsiveness toward health or locality concerns voiced nationwide regarding urban utilities expansion-a possible model to address conflicts over residential proximity issues.

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