POLITICS

CRDA’s Land‑Acquisition Drive Sparks Violent Clash in Undavalli, Guntur

CRDA officials entered Undavalli in Guntur district with heavy machinery, tearing up fertile fields and prompting a sharp protest from local farmers. Police detained several demonstrators, including women, heightening tensions and drawing criticism from state leaders. The incident underscores growing friction over forced land acquisition in Andhra Pradesh’s development zones.

By Open Vaartha Desk · 2026-07-10

TL;DR

CRDA’s forced land acquisition in Undavalli led to a violent clash, police detention of farmers—including women—and renewed debate over development‑driven dispossession in Andhra Pradesh.

Key points

CRDA officials used JCB excavators to flatten cultivated fields in Undavalli on July 8, 2024
Police detained at least twelve protesters, including three women farmers
Farmers allege inadequate compensation and lack of prior consultation under the 2019 Land Acquisition Act
State minister announced an inquiry into the incident, citing the need for lawful procedures
Farmers’ unions plan a statewide march demanding a moratorium on CRDA land seizures

On July 8, 2024, a team of Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) officials arrived in Undavalli, a village on the outskirts of Guntur, accompanied by JCB excavators. The machines began flattening green paddy fields that had been cultivated for generations, prompting a spontaneous blockade by local farmers. Police responded by forcefully dispersing the crowd, arresting at least twelve people, among them three women who were later taken to the district jail.CRDA, created in 2014 to oversee the expansion of the Amaravati capital region, has been tasked with acquiring land for infrastructure, industrial parks, and residential projects. The authority claims the Undavalli parcel is earmarked for a new logistics hub that will boost regional connectivity. However, the villagers argue that the acquisition notice was issued without adequate compensation or prior consultation, violating the Andhra Pradesh Land Acquisition Act of 2019.The farmers, many of whom depend on the harvested crops for their livelihood, accused the officials of “wantonly destroying our green fields.” Witnesses reported that the JCB operators continued work despite pleas from the crowd, leading to a heated exchange that escalated when police used batons to push back the protesters. Female farmers, who traditionally manage seed sowing and irrigation, were specifically targeted, sparking outrage on social media under the hashtag #UndavalliResistance.State officials, including the Minister for Rural Development, have called for an inquiry, stating that “lawful procedures must be respected while pursuing development.” Legal experts note that forced acquisition without fair compensation can be challenged in the High Court, and similar disputes in the region have previously resulted in stay orders. The incident also revives a broader debate over Andhra Pradesh’s rapid urbanisation agenda, which critics say prioritises corporate interests over agrarian communities.The fallout from Undavalli could influence upcoming policy reviews on land acquisition across the state. Farmers’ unions have pledged to organize a statewide march next week, demanding a moratorium on all CRDA‑led seizures until a transparent grievance mechanism is established. Meanwhile, human‑rights groups are urging the police to release the detained women and to investigate alleged excesses during the confrontation.