Date:17/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/17/stories/2008071752670300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

‘Jaatha’ enters Vizianagaram district

Correspondent

Dangers of coastal corridor highlighted

Land deals banned along the coast from Ichchapuram to Thada
Some 80 lakh fishermen families will be hit, it is feared

VIZIANAGARAM: The jaatha against the proposed coastal corridor that entered the district at Kandivalasagedda on Wednesday morning traversed through Govindapuram, Bharanikam, Chintapalli and Konada villages in Poospatirega mandal and Akkavaram and Thudem in Bhogapuram mandal.

Poor response

Owing to lack of prior information about the jaatha, the response to it in the fishermen villages was lukewarm.

However, K. Ramakrishna, former MLA and State president of the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangam, Y. Nandanna, State convenor, and B. Rambabu, district general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Matsyakarula Sangam, P. Kameswara Rao, CPI district secretary, and others met the fishermen who were seen repairing nets on the shore at Chintapalli.

Mr. Ramakrishna enlightened them on the impending danger from the coastal corridor. He informed them that the GO 34 had already banned sale or purchase of lands along the 972 km long coast from Ichchapuram in Srikakulam district to Thada in Nellore district.

It had been decided to allot five lakh acres of land between the two points for setting up chemical factories at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.43lakh crores. The allotment of lands would displace some 80 lakh fishermen families from their habitations, he said.

Pollution

Moreover, the pollutants released from the factories into the sea would damage the fish and environment, he said, and criticised Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy for allotting more lands to industrialists than their requirement.

He said though the state Budget touched Rs.1 lakh crore, the government had been neglecting the poor and the artisans.

He called upon fishermen and farmers to attend the meeting at Vijayawada on July21 where a plan of action for intensifying the agitation would be chalked out.