Andhra Pradesh

Land issue: CPI agitation on June 26

Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam district unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) will hold dharnas at three places in the district on June 26 to protest against the State Government’s move to allot land to Jindal South West company at Boddavara and for Ras-Al-Khaima aluminium smelter unit at Makavarapalem, despite strong opposition of the locals.

The party would also oppose the permission given for bauxite mining at Anantagiri to Jindal by the government without obtaining the mandatory permission from the Pollution Control Board, forest and Environment Department, alleged CPI district J.V. Satyanarayanamurthy.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said the agitational programmes would be held at ITDA office in Paderu, sub-collector’s office in Narsipatnam and the District Collector’s office in Visakhapatnam.

The party would continue its agitation till the government withdrew its “anti-people” activities.

He charged that the government was not bothered about public opinion but was more interested to favour industrialists by offering them land.

On July 2, the party would organise another protest before the mandal offices in Paderu, G. Madugula, Chintapalli, GK Veedhi and Koyyuru seeking pattas for the land tilled by the tribals in the forest areas and water supply for drinking and irrigation purposes.

“We will cook our food in the places of agitation and won’t allow the tahsildars to go home till our demands are met,” he said.

The CPI leader warned about the threat of Thandava, Sarada and Gostani rivers getting polluted due to bauxite mining. Similarly, there is a threat to Sileru river too which ultimately merges with Godavari river.

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