After the proposal by a US-based company to set up a nuclear equipment manufacturing unit in Nakkapalli mandal got bogged down in controversies, the A.P. Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) is now toying with the idea of offering alternative site.
Sources told The Hindu that the APIIC has sent feelers to Brighton Energy to retain its investment plan in Visakhapatnam district by promising an alternative location for its project involving an investment of $ 800 million.
The project envisaged manufacturing of forged steel components for use in nuclear power plant.
The sources said it wanted to construct the plant on a fast track to commence operations by 2012.
The procedural delays, the protests from the local communities and the agitation over Telangana led to speculation that the project proponent may withdraw its investment plan.
Memorandum
The memorandum for the project at seaside village of D.L. Puram in Nakkapalli mandal, 100-km from here, was signed with a top delegation from the Brighton group and the State government in January 2011. They had zeroed in on an area of 800 acres.
Jobs promised
The company had promised to provide jobs for 2,500 highly skilled personnel and indirect employment for 10,000.
Strong protests by the farmers and fishermen in the locality had put a question mark over the project right from the word go. Later, on petitions filed by displaced persons, the Andhra Pradesh High Court issued an order recently for a status quo on the land acquisition process in 2,300 acres in Nakkapalli mandal.
The area included the proposed captive port by Anrak Aluminium Limited at Rajaiahpeta.
“We don't want to surrender our lands, come what may. Our people are not convinced with the way the revenue officials want to acquire our lands in a hurry when the draft Land Acquisition Bill is in the process of getting enacted into a law,” Satya Rao, former sarpanch of Rajaiahpeta, said.
Revenue officials issued land acquisition notices under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act.
After the locals refused to accept the notices served on them, the authorities threatened to acquire the lands by force under Section 4 (1) of the Act.
“Our only request to the government is to not acquire lands by force. As per the new Act, let there be projects only with the consent of the project-affected people,” CPI (M) district secretary Ch. Narsinga Rao said.
