AP Rythu Sangham demands compensation for farmers displaced from Bhogapuram airport

The Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham has demanded that the state government immediately provide fair compensation to all farmers who lost their land due to the construction of the Bhogapuram International Airport in Vizianagaram district and revoke the ESMA restrictions imposed on the airport area ahead of the inauguration ceremony.

In a statement issued on Friday, Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham President V. Krishnaiah and State Secretary K. Prabhakar Reddy said the government had “forcefully acquired” more than 2,830 acres of agricultural land for the airport project since 2015 without providing fair compensation to the affected farmers in accordance with the provisions of the Land Act, 2013. Land Acquis.

They said farmers, farm laborers and local residents had collectively resisted the land acquisition process led by the Rythu Sangham, CPI(M) and Left parties and accused the government of violating legal provisions while taking over the land.

According to them, several farmers approached the Supreme Court seeking compensation for allotted (DKT) land at par with patta land under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. The High Court reportedly ruled in favor of the farmers. However, the government failed to implement the judgment and pay the rightful compensation to the affected families, they claimed.

Rythu Sangham officials questioned how the government and airport authorities, who have spent thousands of crores of rupees on the airport project, could claim that they are unable to pay compensation to the poor farmers whose land was acquired for the project. They further alleged that the government used the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in the Bhogapuram airport area to prevent farmers, farm workers and local residents from voicing their opposition during the Prime Minister’s proposed opening of the airport. She strongly condemned what she described as the “authoritarian approach” of the state government.

Published – 29 May 2026 23:36 IST