The district revenue officials are gearing up to complete the land acquisition process in a couple of months for establishing the atomic power plant in Kovvada as they anticipate a positive reply from the Union Government for the social impact survey conducted as per the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
Senior officials say the committee constituted to cross-check the survey details will give its consent for taking up other works, including land acquisition, the process of which has been hampered by the delay in finalisation of compensation for the displaced persons.
“We have taken the feedback of locals by conducting village-level public hearing meetings. Most of them are keen on accepting the package offered by the government. Hence, physical land acquisition process would be completed soon,” says a senior official.
“The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has already been given advance possession of 1,000 acres of government land. Private land will be handed over after completion of the acquisition process. The government is likely to offer ₹18 lakh per acre. We would acquire around 950 acres,” he adds.
NPCIL project director G.V. Ramesh has held a series of talks with District Collector P. Lakshmi Narasimham and Joint Collector K.V.N. Chakradharbabu seeking their cooperation in overcoming the ground-level problems.
He has reportedly interacted with the villagers and listened to their grievances in the Ranasthalam tehsildar’s office.
The NPCIL officials are hopeful that private land would also be handed over to the corporation in a couple of months as most of the affected persons are happy over the enhanced compensation and other benefits.
Though officials are confident about the land acquisition process, the situation at the ground level is completely different.
Several villagers of Kovvada, Kotapalem and surrounding areas have been insisting on a written commitment from the government on the rehabilitation and compensation package so that they could make up their mind over surrendering of their land.
They have also been seeking ₹30 lakh as compensation per acre. They are citing the example of Bhogapuram, where the displaced have been offered ₹33 lakh per acre to facilitate establishment of an international airport.
Stir plan
Meanwhile, convener of the Forum For Development of North Andhra A. Aja Sarma and CITU State vice-president D. Govinda Rao told The Hindu that all civil society groups would stage an agitation in March by involving people of 107 villages of Laveru, Etcherla, Ranasthalam, Pydibhimavaram, and Pusapatirega mandals.
“Village-level committees are being formed to strengthen the movement against the atomic plant. The issue should not be seen as a compensation problem. Its establishment will lead to many problems in the surrounding areas too,” said Mr. Govinda Rao.
