Fishermen here are seething with anger over reports that the Andhra Pradesh government plans to issue notification for the third phase land acquisition for the Naval Alternate Operational Base — coming up near here under Project INS Varsha — to dock India’s indigenously-built nuclear powered submarine Arihant.
At a time when the displaced families are continuing their protests over the government’s failure to provide jobs after acquiring nearly 4,600 acres in the Atchutapuram and Rambilli mandals of the district, about 60 km from the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command, reports that another round of land acquisition is on the cards have forced them to become belligerent.
‘Topmost priority’
Sources told The Hindu that the Andhra Pradesh government has formed a committee comprising senior officials of the Navy, the district administration and other agencies to remove the “hurdles” in land acquisition as NAOB is of ‘topmost priority’ to the Ministry of Defence.
“The authorities washed their hands of by providing 150 square yards to each displaced family at Dibbapalem. Recently, people squatted before the main gate of NAOB to express their resentment over failure to provide them employment as even contract workers,” NAOB Nirvasitula Sangham honorary president Ch. Narsinga Rao said.
He said they would intensify the agitation against fresh land acquisition, and insist on the authorities providing job to at least one member of each displaced family. Though the construction of NAOB began about seven to eight years ago, it is not known when it will be completed.
