CPI (M) has sought an immediate halt to land acquisition process for the nuclear power plant proposed at Kovvada in Srikakulam district as the Land Acquisition Bill of 2013 was pending before the President for consent after it was adopted in both Houses of Parliament.
Declaring the notification issued for land acquisition under 1894 Act as ‘totally unjustified,’ CPI (M) State secretariat member Ch. Narsinga Rao said on Monday that as per the new Act, no project should be cleared without obtaining consent from 80 per cent of the project- affected people. It also envisages payment of compensation at the rate of four-times the actual land value.
Terming the issuing of notification under Section 4 (1) of old Act as ‘anti-people,’ he said the district administration wanted to acquire 481 acres and 94 cents from Kotapalem and Ramachandrapuram panchayats of Ranasthalam mandal. He said they would oppose the acquisition process when the authorities hold ‘gram sabhas’ on November 27 and 29.
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Stating that as per the 123 agreement of Indo-American nuclear deal the Government of India was under pressure to import six reactors from the GE to generate 6,000 MW power from the Kovvada plant, he said after the Fukushima incident, none was coming forward to foray into nuclear power generation.
Mr. Rao said the High Court issued a stay order on acquisition of 5,800 acres in Nakkapalli area for new industries.