Lambasting the Telugu Desam government for its failure to protect the naturally formed Hope Island near Kakinada, Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan on Thursday expressed concern over the environmental degradation taking place in the city due to the deep water project and other industrial units. The actor-turned-politician also slammed the Opposition YSRCP for remaining silent on the issue.
“Hope Island is the natural protector of the seacoast. But it is losing its shape now due to continuous dredging operations to pave way for the entry of vessels into the deep water port. Both the ruling and the Opposition parties are backing the port management and turning a deaf ear to the environmental concerns,” he said while addressing a press conference here.
Before leaving the district on a short break from the tour, Mr. Pawan Kalyan addressed the media and visited the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ).
Making it clear that the JSP was not against industrial development, he said that environment should be given top priority, as the future generations too had equal rights on the natural resources.
“The promoters of the deep water port became multi-millionaires in a short span with support from the political parties. I am going to lodge a complaint against the promoters with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as I have information that they are currently residing in the US,” he said.
SEZ concept opposed
Addressing a public meeting at the KSEZ, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said that he was against the concept of the SEZ as it was proved not suitable for India.
“The government failed to extend the relief and rehabilitation package to the farmers while acquiring land for the KSEZ. In the absence of industrial development that was promised, the farmers are demanding that their lands be returned. I am seeing genuineness in their demand,” he said, alleging that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Leader of the Opposition Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy utterly failed in extending support to the KSEZ evacuees. “Instead, they are backing the promoters and helping the real estate flourish here in the name of industrial development,” he said.
