: The Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and other Left organisations plan to take up massive agitations to oppose the Kovvada nuclear power plant as the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and the Andhra Pradesh government had taken steps for land acquisition. NPCIL authorities transferred Rs.389 crore in Srikakulam Collector’s account, paving the way for settling the compensation issue of the displaced persons of various mandals.
According to officials, around 2,200 acres of land of individual property owners is needed for the construction of the project. About 1,500 families of various villages such as China Kovvada, Peda Kovvada, Tekkali and Ramachandrapuram face displacement. Although the government said it needed only 2,200 acres but the actual extent may more as the NPCIL plans to construct one of the biggest plants in the district. Six nuclear reactors of 1,594 MW each have been planned here. The CPI(M), which is conducting to garner the support of villagers, has decided to stage a massive protest at the Kovvada Land Acquisition Office here on April 12. Senior party leaders B. Krishna Murthy, D. Govinda Rao and others said that the people would not accept compensation since their fight was against the very establishment of the nuclear plant in Ranasthalam mandal.
‘Quake-prone area’
“Srikakulam has been turned into a lab for unwanted projects like thermal, nuclear power projects and pharmaceutical companies. The nuclear power plant poses a threat to the entire North Andhra region as it is going to be established in an earthquake-prone zone,” said Mr.Krishnamurthy.
Andhra Pradesh Manava Hakkula Vedika district president KV Jagannatha Rao alleged that the Telugu Desam Party had strongly opposed the project when it was in the opposition, but changed its stand after coming to power. “We will expose the double standard of the TDP during the protest,” he said.
