Villagers feel package, though attractive, will not address their livelihood issues
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and State government are all set to finalise the resettlement and rehabilitation package for the project-affected persons of Kovvada and surrounding areas of Ranasthalam to overcome the opposition to the nuclear power project.
NPCIL plans to acquire 2,000 acres in Peda Kovvada, China Kovvada, Tekkali and Ramachandrapuram villages for the construction of nuclear plant with a capacity of 10,000 MW in a phased manner. The government is likely to allocate Rs. 500 crore for the package. A colony will be constructed and jobs will be provided to the eligible persons. NPCIL Chief Engineer G.V. Ramesh told The Hindu that discussions were on to approve the package.
The State government has already set up a unit to speed up the acquisition of lands. Recently, district Collector G. Venkatram Reddy visited the Kudankulam nuclear power plant to have first-hand information about the package and its implementation. However, a section of the villagers are opposing the proposal on the ground that there will be a question mark over their livelihood in other places. For the same reason, leaders of the fishermen community are also opposing the land acquisition. Coordinator of opposition parties Kalisetty Appalanaidu alleged that the villagers were kept in the dark over the status of the project.
‘No public hearing'
“Villagers will strongly oppose any move to acquire lands in Kovvada and other villages. Officials are yet to conduct a public hearing over the proposed project. People are worried about the environmental impact and the consequent loss of livelihood,” he added.
NPCIL plans to acquire 2,000 acres for the construction of 10,000 MW nuclear plant Colony will be constructed and jobs provided to the eligible persons, says official
