The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday issued a notification for land acquisition to build India’s biggest nuclear power plant at Kovvada in the Ranasthalam mandal of Srikakulam district. The outgoing Collector, P. Lakshmi Narasimham, signed on the crucial notification.
The hurried decision to issue the notification led to an uproar, as the government is yet to conduct the public hearing which is mandatory under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. The Left parties alleged that the public meeting conducted as part of the Social Impact Survey is being shown as the official public hearing. The parties are surprised that the government is going ahead with the land acquisition when questions remain on the building of reactors by Toshiba-owned Westinghouse after the latter filed for bankruptcy .
The power plant is the first of the six nuclear reactors to be set up in Andhra Pradesh as part of the operationalisation of the India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement. The Westinghouse is collaborating with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) in building the reactor.
As per the notification, the government will acquire 600 acres from 1,907 villagers in Kovvada, Kotapalem, Tekkali and nearby places. The district administration has identified around 1,574 acres of government and assigned lands for the construction of the atomic power plant with an estimated capacity of 6,600 MW.
‘More than a fair deal’
The government will pay a compensation of ₹18 lakh for an acre of private land and extend a package for other individuals who depend on the economic activity of the region to eke out a living. The NPCIL has already deposited ₹384 crore with the Collector’s official account towards payment of compensation.
“We are planning to complete the acquisition in six months. The land will then be handed over to the NPCIL. We hope the villagers will cooperate as the compensation of ₹18 lakh per acre is more than fair,” J. Sitarama Rao, Special Deputy Collector, Kovvada Land Acquisition, told The Hindu .
Protest by Left parties
Leaders of Left parties, including Bhaviri Krishnamurthy, D. Govinda Rao, and D. Ganesh, organised a massive protest at here soon after the notification was issued.
They said the government should not acquire land as the NPCIL had not obtained approval for the Kovvada site from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
“We urge all farmers to oppose the forcible land acquisition since it disturbs their lives permanently. Left parties, NGOs and other organisation will form village-level committees to oppose the move,” said Mr. Rao, who was later arrested along with other leaders.
