The State Government has withdrawn its decision to issue draft notification to acquire 2,800 acres of private land for the proposed deep-sea port at Machilipatnam. The decision was taken by the State Government soon after the farmers from the six affected villages refused to part with their land for the project during a public meeting held here on Monday.
“We will not issue the draft notification until the farmers are convinced to spare with their land. We will persuade the local communities in the proposed project area and tell them about the packages to be offered in compensation for their land”, Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra told The Hindu.
Last week, a team of Revenue officials led by Krishna District Collector Babu. A was all set to issue the draft notification in May following a detailed discussion with the Machilipatnam Member of Parliament Konakalla Narayana Rao and Mr. Ravindra.
“The date of issuing the draft notification to acquire 2,800 acres of private land will be fixed in consultation with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu”, Mr. Ravindra told The Hindu. It is learnt that Mr. Chandrababu Naidu had directed the officials not to issue the draft notification without prior consent of the affected communities, particularly farmers.
Meanwhile, the District Collector on Monday, announced that he would submit a detailed report of the public meeting, documenting the opinions of the locals from respective villages to be covered under the sea port project, to the Chief Minister.
Jolt to big farmers
The new design of the Machilipatnam port, approved by the Indian Ports Association, will cover the land owned by the big farmers who earlier fought for the port. Since majority of the big farmers are supporters of the TDP, Mr. Ravindra and Mr. Narayana have found it difficult to convince them for the land acquisition.
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