The long-pending construction of Machilipatnam port is expected to make headway with the government giving due priority to it as part of its plan to develop intermediate and minor seaports along the coast.
Collector Babu. A is holding a crucial meeting with farmers at Machilipatnam on May 18 to persuade them to give their lands for the project with the promise of fair and adequate compensation for parting with their holdings. Acquisition of government lands has been completed and notification for taking over private lands is to be issued in about a week. In the run-up to that, the Collector’s meeting is taking place on Monday and the officials are hopeful that it will be a smooth process.
According to Minister for BC Welfare and Excise Kollu Ravindra, two villages – Campbellpet and Pallipalem in Machilipatnam mandal – are to be shifted to other locations after working out the R&R scheme. People in some other villages in the same mandal are also facing displacement.
MP Konakalla Narayana Rao told The Hindu that nearly 4,000 acres of government land had already been identified and taken possession of and survey of private lands was also completed.
Monday’s meeting was intended to tell farmers that the government planned to acquire their lands totalling 2,000 acres-plus with their consent after adequately compensating them for their loss.
“We are seeking cooperation of farmers. They can bring their problems to the Collector’s office and an amicable solution will be found”, he said.
Asked when the foundation stone would be laid for the project, Mr. Narayana Rao said it would happen after the land issue is sorted out, for which the farmers are responding positively.
According to official sources, a draft notification was issued for acquisition of 2,288 acres of private lands and the total requirement of land for the project has been put at 5,325 acres.
