Villagers block NH-44 over Siddapur waste plant, demand cancellation
HYDERABAD: A high-voltage political storm erupted on the Hyderabad-Bangalore National Highway 44 at Shadnagar crossroads on Tuesday. Hundreds of villagers, farmers, and opposition leaders staged a sit-in to demand the cancellation of a proposed solid waste processing facility at Siddapur. The Anti-Dumping Yard Protest Committee organized the demonstration. Traffic stopped for over 40 minutes as protesters shouted slogans against the government and the local MLA.
The highway echoed with chants like “Remove the Dumping Yard, Save Siddapur” and “Down with the MLA.” Meanwhile, BRS leaders, BJP members, committee officials, and residents from several villages joined the protest. Later, leaders presented their demands at the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, urging officials to see the impact of their decisions. M. Satyanarayana, Chairman of the Anti-Dumping Yard Protest Committee, led the protest. Palamuru MLC N. Naveen Kumar Reddy attended as chief guest.
Leaders and protesters said the dumping yard would harm public health, damage the environment, and threaten the future of local farmers and workers. As a result, they demanded the government withdraw the plan immediately. Furthermore, they warned they would escalate protests if officials ignored them.
MLC Naveen Kumar Reddy accused Shadnagar MLA Veerlapalli Shankar of taking a Rs 50 crore bribe to allow the dumping yard project. Reddy told the media, “People elected you to protect their interests, but you took money to dump garbage on them.” He challenged the MLA to join the protest if he had not taken a bribe. Reddy urged him to resign to stop the project and promised support for his re-election if he lost his seat.
Reddy warned that if the MLA let officials acquire farmers’ land, people should publicly protest against him. Moreover, he threatened to bring former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and Working President K.T. Rama Rao to Siddapur if the government did not withdraw the proposal.
Committee chairman Satyanarayana questioned the MLA’s credibility and reminded him of his earlier promise, “This mandal is mine. I am a son of this soil. As long as I am here, I will not allow a solid waste facility.” Satyanarayana demanded answers about how Government Order No. 641 was issued despite that pledge. He said the protest would continue until officials revoke the order.
#SaveSiddapur Protest: 40-Minute NH-44 Blockade
Hyderabad-Bengaluru National Highway (#NH-44) choked for 40 minutes as hundreds protest against government’s Siddapur dump yard decision. #revoke641 #cancelg0641
Follow @Hyderabad_Mail for more updates. pic.twitter.com/MgJiIZfLAu
— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) July 7, 2026
Meanwhile, BJP state executive member Palamuru Vishnuvardhan Reddy criticized the MLA, saying, “If you dump waste on us, you will be known as a ‘waste’ MLA. It’s your choice to be remembered as a good or bad leader.”
He accused the government of issuing Government Order 641 as part of a larger scheme. He also blamed MLA Shankar for failing to stop it. Reddy said being remembered as a “joker” or “broker” MLA would only bring shame.
MLC Naveen Reddy urged former Shadnagar MLAs, including Bakkani Narasimhulu and Pratap Reddy, to break their silence and join the protest. He questioned why they ignored the community’s suffering. Meanwhile, senior leader and former Market Committee Chairman Vankayala Narayana Reddy said, “This is just the beginning. If we do not get justice, another Telangana-style movement will follow.”
The protest blocked National Highway 44 for over 40 minutes. Participants included former Municipal Chairman Narendar, Kadampalli Srinivas Goud, Devender Yadav, Ramakrishna, Kosgi Srinivas, Councilor Nandaram Ashok Yadav, Yugandhar, Dinesh Sagar, Shiva Chari, Madhusudan Reddy, and many others.
