Chittor, May 16: The indefinite fast taken up by the residents of the tribal hamlet Parasathopu in Thamballapalli mandal has taken a dramatic turn.
One of the members of the tribe Venkataramana attempted suicide on Saturday by dousing himself in Kerosene and on Sunday, one, Ramanamma (35) fell ill as a result of the hunger strike which sparked tension.
The eighty-seven residents of the tribal hamlet have been on indefinite fast demanding funds for construction of new houses with regard to evacuation of the hamlet.
The hamlet is one of the submergible areas under Chinneru project. The project is almost completed and the residents fear submersion of their houses in the coming rainy season.
The government had provided sites for construction of houses in Thambalapalli and had also agreed to provide one lakh rupees each for the construction works.
However, even after repeated pleas, the amount was not released.
After several protests and representations, the then joint collector Pradyumna released Rs 87 lakh which was transferred to Madanapalli bank and kept under the control of the sub-collector.
Due to MLC elections, the amount was not handed over to the beneficiaries.
The issue got further delayed with Pradhyumna being recently transferred from the place.
The new joint collector reportedly told the villagers that the government sanctioned house sites only and that they would not be provided funds for construction.
The shocked villagers took up indefinite fast. When contacted, Madanapalli sub-collector Siva Reddy admitted that the funds which were released were in the bank.
He told that he is waiting for the joint collector’s orders and assured to provide the funds as soon as orders to this effect were received.
–Agencies