Hyderabad: Residents of Vatvarlapally village in the Amrabad Tiger Reserve staged a blockade of the Hyderabad-Srisailam highway on Tuesday, accusing forest officials of stalling govt-approved development works and pressuring them to relocate from the village.Raising slogans of “No relocation, we want development,” the protesters demanded that they be allowed to continue living in their native village with access to basic infrastructure, housing, education and livelihood opportunities.The residents alleged that several govt-sanctioned projects had been delayed or obstructed. They claimed construction of a school building approved following the intervention of the local MLA had been stopped, while work on a sanctioned drinking water tank had also run into hurdles. Villagers further alleged that contractors engaged in constructing a compound wall for an ashram school were warned against taking up the work.According to the protesters, forest officials were also preventing the transport of sand and gravel into the village for house construction and discouraging contractors from executing govt-funded projects.Questioning how development works approved by the govt could be blocked in the name of relocation, villagers said restrictions on housing, education and drinking water facilities were hampering the village’s growth. They also alleged that residents running small businesses were facing difficulties because of curbs imposed in the area.The villagers reiterated their opposition to relocation. “We were born here, grew up here and will continue to live here,” they said, alleging that some residents were being pressured and offered inducements to move out of the village.Former sarpanches Chatru Naik and Sarya Naik, ward members Chittemma, Mounika and Venkatapathi, women’s groups and village elders participated in the protest.The residents demanded that all sanctioned development works be completed, restrictions on construction be lifted, livelihood opportunities be protected, and efforts to relocate villagers be halted. They warned of intensifying their agitation through democratic means if their demands were not addressed.
