Even as the agitation by farmers of Amaravati to retain their area as the capital city of Andhra Pradesh is nearing 200 days, the Jagan Mohan Reddy government has issued two orders releasing payment of Rs 189.70 crore to them towards annuity payment.
The orders were issued within a day of some advocates representing the Amaravati farmers moved the state high court seeking directions to the government to release annuity payments to the farmers which have been delayed by more than a month.
Apparently, the farmers were apprehensive that the Jagan government might not release the annuity payment in the wake of its decision to form three capitals for AP, shifting administrative capital to Visakhapatnam and judiciary to Kurnool.
However, the government issued two separate GOs – one for Rs 142.28 crore and another for Rs 47.42 crore towards towards annuity payment to farmers under Land Pooling Scheme of APCRDA for the year 2020-21.
This is for the first time that the Jagan government released orders for payment of annuity to the Amaravati farmers after it took the decision to shift the administrative capital to Visakhapatnam, that has led to the agitation by the farmers and cases in the court.
Last year, too, the annuity amount was paid sometime in September and the delay was because of the elections and formation of the new government led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
But at that time, the farmers had no idea that Jagan would shift the capital to Visakhapatnam, though they were worried that the capital construction might be delayed due to change in priorities of the government.
But now, the government has issued orders to continue payment of annuity to the farmers as per the commitment made in the assembly. That does not mean Jagan has second thoughts on the capital city!
