: The Andhra Pradesh government and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) are facing new challenges in fixing compensation for lands to be acquired at Kovvada, where the NPCIL plans to construct India’s biggest atomic power plant in association with the Westinghouse Electric Corporation.
The government offered around Rs.13 lakh per acre in Kovvada, Kotapalem, Tekkali and other areas though the registration value was around Rs. 4 lakh per acre. However, the market value ranges from Rs.8 lakh to Rs.10 lakh. The government’s offer was hailed initially as it offered more than the market value as per the new Land Acquisition Act 2013.
Now, many farmers are insisting on higher compensation on a par with farmers of Bhogapuram where the government offered between Rs. 27 lakh and Rs. 33 lakh per acre to acquire lands for constructing an international airport.
They argue that though the distance between Kovvada and Bhogapuram was only 25 km, the difference in compensation was huge. Both the areas are located close to the sea and coconut is the main crop.
“The government cannot offer different rates for the same lands. We will not hand over land until our demands are accepted by the government,” said G. Vasudeva Rao, a farmer. M. Jaggulu, a fisherman, said higher compensation should be paid since fishermen would lose their livelihood permanently with the establishment of the atomic power plant.
