Activists of the opposition parties and civil society organisations took out a protest march here on Saturday to exert pressure on the State government to urge the Centre to locate the central port sanctioned to Andhra Pradesh at Ramayapatnam in Prakasam district.
Leading the protest from the north bypass to the Church centre here, Prakasam District Development Forum (PDDF) president Ch. Ranga Rao took strong objection to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reportedly asking the Centre to sanction a Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ) if it had problems in proceeding with the port project at Dugarajapatnam for various reasons.
BJP district president P.V. Krishna Reddy said it was unfortunate that Mr. Naidu was dilly-dallying on recommending Ramayapatnam, best suited for locating the second major public sector port on the east coast after the Centre had asked the State to suggest an alternative site to Dugarajapatnam which was found to be ‘technically infeasible and economically unviable by experts’.
Ulterior motive
CPI(M) East Prakasam unit district assistant secretary G.V. Konda Reddy saw in the State government’s dithering on the issue, an ‘ulterior motive’ to benefit a private port in neighbouring Nellore district.
CPI district secretary M.L. Narayana said only a public sector port would ensure jobs for Dalits and other Backward Classes who enjoyed reservation.
