Even as the Centre and State governments are intensifying efforts for setting up of nuclear and thermal projects across the country, acquiring land for such projects proposed in Srikakulam district has emerged a herculean task.
The recent ordinance brought in by the Centre with amendments to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act-2013 allows it to acquire land for development projects without the resolution of local body concerned and social impact assessment survey.
Despite this, land acquisition for the proposed power projects in the district may not be a cakewalk for the government, with the local residents up in the arms against the move.
Six persons were killed in police firing during agitations staged by the residents against the proposed thermal projects in Sompeta and Kakarapalli in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Apart from that Left parties, environmentalists and human rights organisations has been vehemently opposing the projects.
People of Sompeta, Baruva and Pondur are up in arms against the proposed 4,000 MW thermal project for which Sumitomo, a Japanese company, signed a pact with the government for construction of the unit. The Centre has planned to set up India’s biggest nuclear project at Kovvada in Ranasthalam mandal. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) will set up six units of 1,594 MW capacity each (total 9,564 MW), if every thing goes well. Around 2,000 families are likely to be affected by acquisition of around 2,000 acres in four villages of Chinna kovvada, Pedda Kovvada, Tekkali and Ramachandrapuram.
Human Rights Forum State General Secretary V.S. Krishna feared that the government would acquire more land in phased manner though initial estimation was very less. “We have been explaining the evil designs behind the ordinance. The Centre can’t dilute the Land Acquisition Act-2013 ,” he said.
Meanwhile, CITU Srikakulam secretary D. Govinda Rao alleged that the nuclear project would be threat to environment and thousands of fishermen would lose their livelihoods with the restriction over fishing activity.
“Many people in Pydibhimavaram will lose employment with closure of many units, since entire Ranasthalam mandal would be declared as the sensitive and protected zone,” he said. HRF Srikakulam wing president KV Jagannatha Rao and Paryavarana Parirakshana Sangham president Y. Krishna Murthy alleged that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was trying to mislead people by claiming that the project would be eco-friendly. “Wet lands will be destroyed with the acquisition of water bodies in Sompeta and Baruva,” they pointed pout.
(Reporting by
K. Srinivasa Rao)
