Sompeta agitation over thermal project, one of the longest struggles of the State, came to an end on Monday with withdrawal of six years of relay hunger strike with the assurance of the government to allow only eco-friendly projects in ‘Beela’ area.
Labour Minister K.Atchannaidu on Monday offered lemon juice to the persons who were in the relay hunger strike camp, ending the agitation formally in the presence of Paryavarana Parirakshana Sangham president Y. Krishna Murthy, who was instrumental in spearheading the agitation against thermal project proposed by the Nagarjuna Construction Company.
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Speaking on the historic occasion, Mr. Atchannaidu said that the government scrapped GO 1109, which enabled the NCC to get land for the construction of thermal project in 2009.
He also said that the government has withdrawn the controversial GO No. 329 which was issued recently helping the NCC to set up multi- product industries.
“We have handed over the lands purchased by the NCC to avoid legal tangles. The company can set up agro-based industries. Locals will also welcome it,” said Mr. Atchannaidu. Dr. Krishnamurthy said that the agitation was started in 2009 and continued for 2,166 days continuously even at the time of Phailin and Hudhud cyclones. He recalled the police firing on the agitators in July, 2010 and added sacrifices of the people forced the government to cancel GOs and paved the way for protection of water bodies in Sompeta region. Earlier, the Minister, Srikakulam MP K. Rammohan, Srikakulam Zilla Parishad Chairperson Chowdary Dhana Lakshmi and other participated in the rally organised to celebrate the occasion.
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