Vijayawada: The AP high court on Tuesday reserved orders in the appeal petition filed by farmers contending land acquisition for the seed access road. The court directed the CRDA to maintain status quo on the lands in question.One Chodishetti Nirmalata had moved the high court contending the proposed land acquisition for the seed access road. A single-judge bench of the court dismissed the petitions, following which the state govt issued land acquisition proceedings and passed the award. Challenging the proceedings, Nirmalata preferred an appeal challenging the single judge order.Arguing on her behalf, senior counsel K S Murthy alleged that officials did not follow the procedure while issuing the land acquisition proceedings. Countering the claims, advocate general Dammalapati Srinivas said the lands required for the seed access road were acquired as per the procedure contemplated. As the petitioners declined to take the award copy, it was pasted to their walls and later sent by registered post. They declined to receive the registered post, and the same was returned. They also declined to receive the compensation cheques, and the same were deposited with the competent authority, Srinivas told the high court.He further stated that all the lands required for the seed access road have been acquired except the petitioners’ land. Works on the seed access road have also begun, and the interim orders passed by the high court directing to maintain status quo are coming in the way of completing the key infrastructure project in capital Amaravati, he said and pleaded to dismiss the petition. Considering the arguments, the high court reserved its orders and directed the CRDA to maintain status quo till its pronouncement.
