Andhra Pradesh

HRF to file fresh objections on SEZ

Kakinada: The Human Rights Forum (HRF), NGOs and an all-party committee, which are spearheading the agitation against the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ), will be raising fresh objections (to the project) before the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on February 7. On the preceding day, they will meet Governor N.D. Tiwari to seek his intervention, HRF convener K. Balagopal told people of Srirampuram village in U. Kotthapalli mandal on Saturday.

Mr. Balagopal said as per G.O. No. 68, the State Government should appoint a high-ranking officer to look for alternative places to set up the SEZ if people refuse to give their lands.

The government is also supposed to take into account the impact of the SEZ on the livelihood of communities that are dependent on farmers while calculating the relief and rehabilitation package. Such people ought to be provided daily wages at par with the farmers who are entitled to compensation.

Besides, the district administration did not conduct a public hearing till date and the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report is yet to be submitted by the department or agency concerned.

The HRF leader sought to know how the government can go ahead with the project without fulfilling the above norms and yet claim that there was no opposition to the KSEZ. In fact, more than 50 per cent of the land acquisition was done forcibly by imposing Sec. 4 (1) of the Land Acquisition Act on the people of 16 villages.

HRF president B. Ramulu and vice-president S. Jeevan Kumar said it was time people prepared for direct action if the government did not heed their warnings to not disturb their livelihood.

Centre for World Solidarity adviser (Natural Resources) C. Udaya Shankar said the people should equip themselves with the EIA report, which is crucial for the project clearance.

Leaders of NGOs Rajendra (Kadali Network), Chiranjeevini Kumari and others spoke.

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