The government has withdrawn its decision to issue the draft notification on acquisition of 2,800 acres of private land for the proposed deep sea port at Machilipatnam. For the record, farmers from the affected six villages of Gopuvanipalem, Mekavanipalem, Tapasipudi, Manginpaudi, Peda and China Karagraham had declined to part with their land for the project during a public meeting here on Monday.
“We will not issue the draft notification until the farmers express willingness to spare their land. We will have to explain to them the packages that will be offered in compensation for their land,” Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra said. Last week, revenue officials were to issue the draft notification in May following detailed discussions with Machilipatnam MP K. Narayana.
“The date of issuing the draft notification to acquire 2,800 acres of private land will be fixed in consultation with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu,” Mr. Ravindra said. It is learnt that Mr. Naidu had directed officials not to issue the draft notification without the prior consent of the affected communities, particularly farmers. The Collector had on Monday announced that he would submit a detailed report on the public meet, documenting the views of people of the respective villages on the port project, to the Chief Minister.
Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra said that date of issuing the draft notification to acquire 2,800 acres of private land will be fixed in consultation with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. It is learnt that Mr. Naidu had asked officials not to issue the draft notification without the prior consent of the affected communities, particularly farmers.
Jolt to farmers
The new design of the proposed Machilipatnam port, approved by the Indian Ports Association, will cover the land owned by big farmers who had earlier fought for the port. Since majority of them are TDP loyalists, Mr. Ravindra and Mr. Narayana have found it tough to convince them of the need for land acquisition. Meanwhile, Mr. Babu promised that officials would explain to people the government’s offer of recruitment and rehabilitation package and other compensatory measures. “We will organise village-level meets to get the nod of farmers,” Mr. Ravindra said.
