R5 Zone: A Minor Setback To Amaravati Farmers

A minor setback has been dealt to farmers in the Amaravati region of Andhra Pradesh, as the AP High Court has dismissed their petition against the government’s creation of the R5 Zone in certain identified villages in the Tulluru mandal. The purpose of this zone was to provide housing sites for non-locals and low-income residents.

Disappointed by the High Court’s decision to dismiss their case, the Amaravati farmers remain undeterred and have announced their intention to approach the Supreme Court. “We shall file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court,” stated the farmers.

In October 2022, the AP government issued a gazette notification to establish a special zone spanning 900 acres in the villages of Mandadam, Ainavolu, Mangalagiri, Krishnayapalem, Nidamarru, and Kuragallu. The government plans to allocate housing for the poor under the name R5 Zone.

The farmers in Amaravati contested the R5 Zone’s establishment, leading to senior advocates Devadath Kamat and VSR Anjaneyulu arguing on their behalf in the AP High Court. However, the court dismissed their petition after hearing the arguments presented by both sides.

The farmers remain concerned that the government’s decision to change the master plan for the capital city of Andhra Pradesh could result in irreversible damage to their agricultural lands and the environment. They argue that the decentralization of the capital to three different locations could have significant adverse effects on their livelihoods.

With the AP High Court’s verdict now behind them, the Amaravati farmers are preparing to take their case to the Supreme Court, hoping for a more favorable outcome. The implications of this case could have far-reaching consequences for the region’s farmers and the future of Andhra Pradesh’s capital city.