CPM opposes fresh Amaravati land drive, flags farmer impact

Vijayawada: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly opposed the Andhra Pradesh government’s move to acquire an additional 44,000 acres of land in Amaravati, warning that the decision would harm farmers and repeat past failures. In a statement issued on Wednesday, CPM State Secretary V. Srinivasa Rao urged the government to immediately withdraw the proposal and focus on fulfilling previous promises.

CPM slams expansion plan as wasteful and harmful

V Srinivasa Rao criticized the government’s renewed land acquisition plans for the development of a greenfield airport, industrial hubs, and a sports city, calling it a waste of public funds and a real estate-driven move.

“Acquiring more land without completing construction on the 34,000 acres already taken over 11 years ago is neither helpful for development nor for the farmers who gave their land,” he said.

The CPM leader warned that creating false illusions of development and forcing villagers to part with land under the guise of expansion would result in greater displacement and hardship.

Questions raised over need for another airport

Referring to the government’s plan for a new airport in Amaravati, Rao questioned its necessity:

“There is already an airport at Gannavaram. A second airport in Amaravati only serves real estate interests, not the state’s development needs.”

Unfulfilled promises and delayed development

The CPM alleged that successive governments—both at the Centre and in the state—have failed to develop Amaravati despite acquiring land over a decade ago.

“The capital has remained incomplete for 11 years. The promises made to farmers and the poor under the pooling scheme remain unfulfilled—employment, free education, medical care, and even the distribution of plots have not been properly executed,” Rao said.

The party further noted that capital buildings essential for governance have not been completed, and that previous commitments should be fulfilled before fresh acquisitions are planned.

Forced acquisition poses threat to agriculture

Rao warned that the government’s current move mirrors past errors and poses a threat to agriculture and the rural economy.

“APIIC already has one lakh acres reserved, yet not a single industry has come up. Despite this, more agricultural land is being forcibly acquired. This will severely affect farmers and the economy.”

Call to rethink and decentralize industry

Emphasizing the need for decentralized development, the CPM demanded a rethinking of the state’s approach to industrialization.

“Industries should be spread across the state, not concentrated in Amaravati. Development should not come at the cost of agricultural livelihoods,” the CPM leader asserted.

Appeal to the public and government

V Srinivasa Rao appealed to the people of Amaravati to resist further destabilization, urging the state government to withdraw the decision and focus on implementing previous commitments.

“People who suffered for five years after 2019 should not be made to suffer again. The government must act responsibly and honour its promises,” he concluded.