The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Decks cleared for Special Economic Zone

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 16, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Decks cleared for Special Economic Zone

By Our Special correspondent

HYDERABAD, JULY 15. The final hurdle in the way of acquiring 9,000 acres of land required by the AP State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation in Visakhapatnam district to facilitate the establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was successfully negotiated by the Government on Thursday.

The total project cost is Rs.1600 crores and the land is to be acquired in two phases. The cost includes that of the land acquisition and the infrastructure establishment.

A team of farmers' representatives from Yallamanchili and Parawada constituencies, which met the Ministers -- B. Satyanarayana and K. Ramakrishna - was successful in negotiating a higher land price - Rs. 2.95 lakhs per acre -- (earlier the Telugu Desam Government agreed for Rs.2.75 lakhs per acre).

The Government is also considering providing housing sites and houses and jobs for the deserving in the proposed zone apart from compensation for the revenue-yielding trees to the inhabitants of the area.

It is expected that 1,700 households will be affected in the 16 villages that fall under the region.

The Telugu Desam Government had begun the negotiations with farmers during its tenure and offered Rs. 2.25 lakhs per acre. But the project made little progress with the farmers refusing to agree to the terms and conditions.

Automobile project

A new automobile manufacturing facility will be coming up near Hyderabad at a cost of Rs.1,000 crores, it is learnt. The Minister for Major Industries, B. Satyanarayana, however, refused to divulge the details.

The deal is in the final stage and a high-level team of the company will visit Hyderabad soon for signing the MOU, it is learnt.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh