Fri Nov 22 05:33:45 UTC 2024: ## Telangana Pharma Village Project Sparks Violence, Leading to Arrests and Political Fallout

**Hyderabad, Telangana –** A proposed “Pharma Village” project in Telangana’s Vikarabad district has erupted into violence, leaving government officials injured and sparking a political showdown. On November 12th, a public hearing on land acquisition for the project devolved into chaos when locals attacked District Collector Prateek Jain, Kodangal Area Development Authority Special Officer K. Venkat Reddy, and other officials.

The incident, unprecedented in scale for Telangana, occurred in Lagcherla village, where residents, primarily from Roti Banda thanda and Pulicheru thanda, protested the government’s plan to acquire 1,358 acres of land. Farmers claim the offered compensation of ₹10 lakh per acre is insufficient, demanding ₹30 lakh per acre to account for livelihood losses. The government’s proposed rehabilitation package includes financial aid, housing, and land plots, but this has been deemed inadequate by the affected population.

The ensuing violence resulted in several arrests, including former BRS MLA Patnam Narender Reddy and local BRS leader Bogamoni Suresh Raj, accused of inciting violence. A total of 24 people have been arrested so far, with police investigating further. The police also transferred Pargi DSP Karunasagar for failing to prevent the incident.

The incident has escalated into a political battle between the ruling Congress party and the opposition BRS and BJP. The Congress government blames the BRS for instigating the violence, while the BRS alleges the Congress is using unverified confessions to malign its leaders. The BJP has also condemned the violence and called for justice for the farmers. Multiple commissions, including the National ST Commission, are investigating alleged police brutality and farmer grievances.

The project itself, a smaller-scale alternative to the scrapped Hyderabad Pharma City, aims to create decentralized pharma clusters across the state to mitigate pollution concerns. While some pharmaceutical companies have expressed interest, the project’s future remains uncertain amid ongoing land acquisition disputes and political tensions. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has announced a tripling of compensation to appease the affected farmers, but the long-term viability of the project remains questionable. The incident highlights the persistent challenges of land acquisition for large-scale projects in India, even with promises of compensation and job creation.

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