The State government is all set to issue a fresh notification to acquire land for the construction of Bhavanapadu greenfield port in Srikakulam district.
The administration faced stiff resistance from locals after it planned to acquire more than 5,000 acres. A series of agitations took place in Bhavanapadu, Pedamarripadu, Chinamarripadu, Devunaltada, Suryamanipuram, Pollada, Kottapeta and Telagapeta.
To overcome the problem, the government has decided to acquire only 2,050 acres for the port to be built in association with the Adani Group which is expected to invest about ₹4,000 crore. Recently, the group signed an agreement with State government at the Patrnership Summit held in Visakhaatnam.
According to officials, the acquisition will now be confined to the villages of Bhavanapadu, Marripadu and Devunaltada. About 105 acres will be acquired at Bhavanapadu and 1,439 acres at Marripadu. As many as 506 acres has to be acquired at Devenulathada of Santabommali mandal.
The previous notification issued in September last drew flak. Left parties alleged that the intention of the government was to avoid payment of compensation under the new land acquisition Act , 2013.
Joint Collector KVN Chakradhar Babu told The Hindu that the acquisition process would be a smooth affair this time. “The seaport project will transform the economic scenario of the backward Srikakulam district. The port will get huge cargo from nearby Odisha and Chhattisgarh,” he said.
“We will hold meetings with locals to explain the best package to be given to them by the government.”
Compared to previous agreements, the State government reportedly could get a better deal during discussions with the Adani Group which agreed to 2.3 % revenue share with the government for the first 30 years after the commencement of the project. It will get doubled between 31 and 40 years. It will go up to 9.6 % between 41 and 50 years.
Vast potential
The Centre’s support has become an added advantage for the project. The Indian Ports Association has completed the techno-economic feasibility study and indicated that the port would meet the expectations of the government.
A delegation of senior officials from Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh and Ports wing is expected to visit the site soon.
Meanwhile, the Left parties warned that they would take up a fresh agitation if the government tried to acquire land without the consent of people. CPI(M) district secretary Bhavari Krishnamurthy, CPI district secretary Sanapala Narasimhulu said the fishermen needed a harbour but the government proposed the seaport to benefit corporate companies.
