Date:20/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/20/stories/2008112059740300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

No truth in campaign against PCPIR, SEZs, says official

Staff Reporter

Global rivals are working against projects that spur growth: APIIC CMD

Not an inch of land has been acquired without farmers’ consent, says official
Vizag set to become another Shanghai, he asserts

VISAKHAPATNAM: Chairman and Managing Director of AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation B.P. Acharya on Wednesday rubbished propaganda against Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) and coastal corridor saying Andhra Pradesh had no Singurs and Nandigrams.

Vested interests

He was speaking during a discussion on ‘Role and support of government agencies and initiatives taken’ at the East Coast Maritime Summit conducted jointly by Vizagapatnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Mumbai-based media house Exim India’s Fairplay Exposition Group.

Mr. Acharya said: “Our global rivals are sponsoring propaganda against projects which will spur growth. The campaigns against PCPIR and coastal corridor are creation of vested interests.”

He said there was not a single inch of land, which had been acquired from the farmers against their consent for setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

However, the vested interests indulged in a campaign to mislead the public that the coastal corridor and SEZs would lead to forcible acquisition of lands all along the coast.

Committed investment

“As of now we, have received committed investment of Rs.73,000 crores by anchor tenants such as GMR, HPCL and an international consortium in the region between Visakhapatnam and Kakinada. Two multi-product SEZs are coming up each in 5,000 acres near Visakhapatnam and Kakinada creating job opportunities to many,” he stated.

Projects in pipeline

Claiming the response for investment was “mind-boggling,” he said Visakhapatnam was set to become another Shanghai with several mega projects in the pipeline.

He said the government had plans to develop 14 non-major ports under public-private participation.

Non-major ports

A logistics park would come up near Visakhapatnam in an area of 200 acres to augment infrastructure.

A separate corridor would come up to give an impetus to container cargo with one-stop facility for all clearances.

Mr. Acharya said the Gangavaram Port was ready for commissioning and it had already started receiving large cargo vessels. He disclosed that the government had plans to set up non-major ports in all the districts so as to make Andhra Pradesh the ideal destination for investors.

Rakesh Srivastava, Joint Secretary (ports), Ministry of Shipping, P. Vittal Das, Chief Commissioner of Customs and others spoke.